Columbia  SUniber^ftp 

THE  LIBRARIES 


Rev.   p.   S.   BENNETT,  A.  M. 


HISTORY 


OF 


Methodism  in  Wisconsin, 


IN   KOUR  RARTS. 


OF   WISCONSIN   CONFERENCE. 


PART  III  BEING  WRITTEN  BY 

REV.  JAMES    IvAWSON, 

OF   WEST   WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE.' 


''  Thou  shalt  remember  all  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  led 
thee."— Deut,  VIII,  2. 


PtlBLISHED  lOKT:d£  J^CTBOItS  BY 

CRANSTCN   &   STCWfc,   OUSfCINNATI, 

1890. 


'/y/D 


Copyright,  1890,  by 
P.  S.  BENNETT  and  JAMES  LAWSON. 


GENERAL  DIVISIONS. 


Part  I. 

HISTORY  OF  EPISCOPAIv  METHODISM  IN  WISCON- 
SIN BEFORE  THE  FORMATION  OF  THE  WIS- 
CONSIN CONFERENCE,  1832-1848. 

Part  II. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE  OF  THE 
METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  1848-1889. 

Part  III. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  WEST  AND  NORTHWEST  WISCON- 
SIN CONFERENCES,  OF  THE  METHODIST  EPISCO- 
PAIv  CHURCH,  1856-1889. 

Part  IV. 

HISTORY  OF  OTHER  METHODIST  BODIES  IN  WIS- 
CONSIN, 1842-1889. 

1.  Primitive  Methodist  Church. 

2.  EvANGEwcAi,  Association  (German). 

3.  German  Episcopai,  Methodists. 

4.  Scandinavian  Methodists. 

5.  Free  Methodists. 

6.  American  Wesi<eyan  Methodists. 


PREFACE. 


THIS  work  was  undertakeD  more  from  a  convic- 
tion of  the  need  of  something  like  it  than  a  con- 
sciousness of  ability  to  produce  what  the  subject 
demands. 

This  conviction,  at  first  feeble,  grew  upon  me  until 
it  crystallized  into  a  partially  formed  conclusion  to 
enter  upon  the  work.  At  this  point  the  following 
resolution  was  presented  to  the  Conference  and  unani- 
mously adopted : 

"  Whereas,  We  learn  that  Rev.  P.  S.  Bennett  is  con- 
templating the  production  of  a  history  of  Methodism  in 
Wisconsin ;  therefore, 

' '  Resolved,  That  we  hereby  express  our  hearty  approval 
of  the  undertaking,  and  will  aid  him  therein  by  furnishing 
historical  data  as  far  as  we  can,  hoping  an  early  com- 
pletion of  the  work. 

(Signed,)        "J.  L.  Hewitt,        B.  R.  Raymond, 
"J.  S.  Davis,  H.  Faville, 

"  S.  LuGG,  E.  G.  Updyke, 

''T.  C.  WiLLSON,  T.  Walker, 
"  W.  P.  Stowe,  H.  Sewell, 
''W.  D.  Ames,  S.  Smith." 

This  settled  the  question.  Though  a  difficult  task, 
I  hardly  dared  refuse  to  attempt  it. 

5 


6  PREFACE. 

But  the  difficulties  encouDtered  were  more  and 
greater  than  those  anticipated. 

We  had  been  making  history  for  more  than  a  half 
century.  During  a  considerable  portion  of  this  period 
the  country  was  new,  society  unsettled,  and  records 
imperfectly  kept.  Much  needed  information  was 
treasured  in  the  memory  of  persons  far  advanced  in 
life,  and  widely  dispersed  over  our  vast  country.  It 
was  often  difficult  to  find  them,  and,  when  found,  their 
recollections  were  not  always  the  same.  Much  dis- 
crimination was  needed  to  balance  up.  Besides,  it 
was  not  easy  to  get  desired  and  available  information 
from  those  in  the  active  work.  Circulars  were  sent 
to  the  pastors,  with  blanks  to  be  filled  and  returned. 
More  than  two-thirds  of  the  pastors  failed  to  respond. 
This  was  very  embarrassing.  To  bring  order  out  of 
chaos  is  difficult;  to  make  something  out  of  nothing 
is  impossible  in  reliable  history. 

Nor  was  this  the  end  of  difficulties.  The  book  is 
to  be,  not  biographies  of  the  living  nor  memorials  of 
the  dead,  but  a  record  of  acts  and  results.  Yet  the 
actors  are  to  come  into  view  and  assigned  to  their 
proper  places.  And  when  one  leaves  the  work  by 
death  or  otherwise,  he  must  receive  appropriate  notice. 
To  do  this  judiciously  is  not  an  easy  task. 

The  plan  of  covering  the  entire  State  and  of  em- 
bracing every  branch  of  Methodism  therein,  has  neces- 
sitated abridgment  where  enlargement  would  other- 
wise have  been  proper. 

The  Appendices  have  cost  much  labor,  and  it  is 
hoped  they  will  be  appreciated. 


PREFACE.  7 

The  work  has  been  delayed  by  a  failure  to  get  the 
history  of  West  and  Northwest  Wisconsin  Confer- 
ences written  at  an  earlier  date.  Rev.  James  Lawson, 
a  highly  honored  member  of  the  AVest  Wisconsin 
Conference,  at  length  undertook  the  work;  and  he 
will  doubtless  do  it  well.  It  constitutes  Part  III  of 
this  book. 

Considerable  space  is  given  to  the  anti-slavery 
and  temperance  questions ;  some  may  think  too  much. 
But  as  the  former  was  the  absorbing  question  of  the 
time,  towering  above  all  other  National  issues  in  im- 
portance, and  as  the  latter  is  scarcely  less  so  now,  I 
feel  justified  in  treating  them  thus. 

The  question  of  illustrations  was  decided  at  a 
rather  late  period,  and  the  result  is  not  quite  satis- 
factory to  me  in  not  being  able  to  secure  more  of  the 
earlier  preachers  for  Parts  I  and  II.  The  failure  is 
not  due  to  lack  of  effort.  Brother  Lawson  has  suc- 
ceeded far  better  for  Part  III.  It  is  hoped  that  these 
faces  will  awaken  profitable  reminiscences  of  past 
labors  and  successes. 

Great  pains  have  been  taken  to  secure  historic 
accuracy  throughout  the  work;  yet  entire  freedom 
from  errors  is  not  expected.  But  the  hope  is  cherished 
that  it  will  be  serviceable  in  many  ways,  and  not  the 
least  in  aiding  some  future  historian  to  produce  some- 
thing better. 

P.  S.  BENNETT. 


Part  I. 


HISTORY  OF  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN 

BEFORE  THE 

FORMATION  OF  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

TO  give  the  reader  a  proper  view  of  the  situation,  a 
brief  account  of  the  civil  relations  of  this  country — 
the  scene  of  the  conflicts  and  triumphs  to  be  recorded — may 
be  beneficial.  It  has  been  successively  under  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  Spain,  France,  Great  Britain,  and  America. 

In  connection  with  the  latter  it  was,  at  diflerent  periods, 
a  part  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  of  the  Northwest  Terri- 
tory, of  the  Territories  of  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Michigan, 
before  becoming  a  Territory  itself.  A  brief  history  of  these 
transitions  may  be  given  thus : 

On  Easter  Sunday,  1512,  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon,  a  com- 
panion of  Columbus,  discovered  the  southern  coast  of  the 
North  American  Continent,  and  named  it  Pascua  Florida 
(Easter  Flower  Laud).  A  subject  of  Ferdinand,  king  of 
Spain,  he  claimed  it  for  his  sovereign.  The  Spaniards 
designated  the  entire  region,  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to 
the  Great  Lakes,  Florida,  and  assumed  dominion  over  it ; 
but  as  nearly  all  this  vast  region  was  unexplored,  and  in- 
habited only  by  the  aborigines,  this  dominion  was  only 
ideal.     Such  as  it  was,   it  continued    until   1627,   when 

1  9 


10  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

France  secured  jurisdiction,  and  held  it  for  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  years. 

During  this  period  French  Jesuits  made  extensive  ex- 
plorations, and  established  several  missions  among  the 
natives.  In  1634,  M.  Nicollet  made  his  way  from  the 
Ottowa  River,  in  Canada,  where  he  had  been  living 
among  the  Indians,  to  Green  Bay,  and  soon  penetrated  the 
interior  as  far  as  the  Wisconsin  River.  He  was,  doubtless, 
the  first  white  man  whose  foot  pressed  the  soil  of  this  wide 
domain.  Other  adventurers  followed,  some  as  fur-traders, 
others  as  explorers  and  missionaries. 

In  1670  two  Jesuits — Pere  Claude  Allouez  and  Claud 
Dablon — established  the  mission  of  St.  Francois  Xavier, 
on  the  south  side  of  Fox  River,  supposed  to  be  where  the 
city  of  De  Pere  now  stands. 

Other  missions,  also,  were  founded  by  similar  agencies 
among  the  various  Indian  tribes  scattered  throughout  the 
wilds  of  this  great  Northwest. 

By  treaty  stipulations  between  France  and  England,  in 
1763,  civil  jurisdiction  passed  to  the  latter,  accompanied 
by  actual  occupancy,  and  this  continued  until  the  issue  of 
the  Revolutionary  War  brought  it  under  American  rule. 

In  1778,  Virginia  extended  its  jurisdiction  over  the 
*'  Illinois  country,"  and  formed  the  "  county  of  Illinois,"  em- 
bracing the  territory  now  included  within  the  States  of 
Illinois  and  Wisconsin. 

The  Northwest  Territory  was  organized  in  1787,  and  in- 
cluded all  north  of  the  Ohio  River  and  west  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, as  far  as  the  "Great  River" — the  Mississippi. 
Within  this  territory  the  domain  of  Wisconsin  continued 
until  1800,  when  it  became  a  part  of  the  Territory  of 
Indiana,  formed  that  year. 

For  nine  years  it  continued  in  that  relation,  and  then 
.became  a  part  of  the  newly  formed  Territory  of  Illinois, 
with  which,  also,  it  remained  nine  years. 


INTBODUCTORY.  11 

On  the  formation  of  the  latter  into  a  State,  in  1818,  our 
many-times  espoused  country  became  wedded  to  the  Terri- 
tory of  Michigan,  and  passed  as  many  years  as  in  both 
the  last-named  relations. 

In  1836  it  became  more  conspicuous,  being  organized 
into  a  Territory  bearing  its  present  name,  including  also 
the  domain  of  the  present  State  of  Iowa. 

In  1848  it  was  admitted  into  the  Union,  making  the 
thirtieth  star  on  our  National  Banner. 

For  more  than  a  hundred  and  fifty  years,  or  until  1829, 
the  aborigines  of  this  region  learned  nothing  of  Christianity 
except  what  was  contained  in  Jesuistic  teaching.  And  as 
Roman  Catholicism  is  a  mixture  of  paganism,  of  Judaism, 
and  of  Christianity,  and  as  Jesuits,  in  their  efiforts  to  con- 
vert the  heathen,  always  concede  largely  to  their  customs 
and  prejudices,  provided  they  will  accept  the  Cross,  the 
Mass,  and  the  Confessional,  no  great  improvement  of  these 
sons  of  the  forest  can  reasonably  be  expected  to  have  been 
made ;  and  appearances  indicated  very  little. 


12  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 


CHAPTER  II. 
1832-6. 

MISSIONS    AMONG   THE    INDIANS   IN   THE   VICINITY 
OF  GREEN  BAY. 

ON  the  21st  of  October,  1829,  by  an  act  of  the  Legis- 
lature of  Michigan  Territory,  in  which  this  country 
was  included,  a  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  was  incor- 
porated at  Green  Bay.  This  was  probably  the  first  Prot- 
estant religious  organization  west  of  Lake  Michigan.  A 
mission-school  was  soon  established  under  the  supervision 
of  Eichard  Cadle,  rector  of  the  Church,  for  the  benefit  of 
the  various  Indian  tribes  that  inhabited  this  region  from 
time  immemorial.  Its  location  was  about  midway  between 
the  present  cities  of  Green  Bay  and  De  Pere.* 

About  1822  the  Oneida  and  Stockbridge  Indians  began 
to  remove  from  the  State  of  New  York  and  settle  on  the 
east  side  of  Fox  River,  near  the  site  of  Kaukauna,  then 
called  "  Kau-kau-lin."  They  continued  to  come  in  small 
companies  at  different  times,  under  governmental  direc- 
tion, until  a  considerable  number  of  them  were  here. 

This  circumstance  seems  to  have  formed  a  sort  of  con- 
necting link  between  this  wild  region  and  the  East. 


*  So  far  as  is  known  the  first  religious  service  conducted  by 
a  Protestant  within  the  present  limits  of  our  State  was  at 
Green  Bay,  in  1820.  Dr.  Jedediah  Morse,  father  of  Professor 
Morse,  who  invented  the  magnetic  telegraph,  was  sent  there 
by  the  Government  on  business  connected  with  the  Indians ; 
and,  being  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  he  preached  once  or  more 
while  there. 


INDIAN  3nSSWNS.  13 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  had  performed  a  vast 
amount  of  really  missionary  work  previous  to  1819 — her 
ministers  being  in  large  measure  self-sustained  missionaries. 
After  that,  she  began  to  prosecute  missionary  operations 
in  a  more  systematic  way,  under  her  well-organized  Mis- 
sionary Society,  formed  that  year. 

In  May,  1832,  the  sixth  delegated  General  Conference, 
was  held  in  Philadelphia.  The  Committee  on  Missions 
recommended  "  the  extension  of  the  aboriginal  missions  in 
the  Western  and  Northwestern  frontiers." 

This  fired  the  heart  of  John  Clark,  a  delegate  from  the 
New  York  Conference,  whose  mind  had  previously  been 
directed  to  the  cause  of  the  Indians;  *'and,  after  due 
consideration  and  much  prayer,  he  offered  himself  to  the 
Board  as  a  missionary  to  Green  Bay,  and  was  accepted." 

On  the  sixth  day  of  the  next  month  his  Conference  com- 
menced its  session,  and  the  list  of  appointments  closes  with 
''John  Clark,  appointed  missionary  to  Green  Bay.'"  He 
immediately  began  to  prepare  for  the  long  and  perilous 
move,  and  on  the  21st  of  July  he  arrived  safely  at  his 
wilderness  field  of  labor.  Considering  the  poor  facilities  of 
travel  at  that  time,  this  was  a  marvelously  expeditious 
transit.  It  gave  an  earnest  of  the  promptitude  and  energy 
needed  to  prosecute  his  difficult  work. 

' '  The  Indian  settlement  whose  interests  were  specially 
kept  in  view  in  establishing  this  mission"  was  not  at  Green 
Bay,  but  at  the  *•  Grand  Kau-Kaulin"  (Kaukauna),  on 
the  east  side  of  Fox  River,  about  twenty-five  miles  from 
the  bay.  It  was  made  up  of  fragments  of  different  tribes 
from  the  State  of  New  York,  as  already  stated. 

So  effectively  did  Mr.  Clark  perform  his  work,  that  on 
the  15th  of  September — less  than  two  months  from  the 
date  of  his  arrival — he  had  the  pleasure  of  dedicating  to 
the  service  of  the  Lord  a  newly  erected  building,  designed 
alike  as  a  house  of  worship  and  a  school  for  the  instruc- 
tion of  children  in  secular  and  sacred   knowledge.     This 


14  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

unpretentious  structure,  built  of  logs,  twenty-four  by  thirty 
feet,  was  the  first  Methodist  house  of  worship  west  of  Lake 
Michigan,  and  north  of  a  line  extending  west  from  a  point 
fifty  miles  south  of  Chicago  to  the  Pacific  Ocean — an  area 
sufficient  for  a  dozen  States  as  large  as  Wisconsin. 

At  the  same  time,  and  in  their  newly  consecrated  temple, 
Mr.  Clark  formed  a  class  composed  of  twenty-five  Indians, 
''  most  of  whom  gave  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart,"  and 
the  others  of  a  *' desire  to  flee  the  wrath  to  come  and  be 
saved  from  their  sins."  The  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per was  then  administered  to  about  forty  Indians,  some  of 
whom  were  Stockbridges  and  Tuscaroras  from  the  Presby- 
terian mission  near  by,  under  the  care  of  Messrs.  Marsh 
and  Stevens.  This  seems  to  have  been  one  of  ' '  the  times 
of  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord."  Such  was 
the  beginning  of  our  missionary  work  among  the  Indians 
in  the  vicinity  of  Green  Bay. 

Mr.  Clark  found  on  his  arrival  one  Daniel  Adams,  who 
had  been  a  preacher  among  his  people  in  Oneida,  New 
York,  and  seemed  very  much  interested  in  the  establish- 
ment of  a  mission  for  their  benefit  in  these  ends  of  the 
earth.  Providence  had  also  anticipated  the  advent  of  the 
missionary  by  leading  thither  Miss  Quinney,  a  pious 
female  Indian  from  the  same  place,  competent  to  teach 
school  there.  On  the  next  day  they  met,  sung,  prayed, 
and  then  organized  a  school  of  thirty  Indian  children. 
Arrangements  were  also  made  with  the  teacher  to  conduct 
a  Sabbath-school  for  the  benefit  of  both  children  and 
adults. 

But  Mr.  Clark  could  not  be  confined  to  that  place. 
''  The  Green  Bay  country"  was  vast  in  extent.  So,  hav- 
ing put  Mr.  Adams  in  charge  of  that  mission  for  the  time, 
he  proceeded  down  the  west  shore  of  the  bay  to  Lake 
Superior,  forming  missions  or  mission  stations  at  different 
points,  which  he  continued  to  supervise  for  several  years. 


INDIAN  MISSIONS.  16 

It  would  be  interesting  to  trace  his  labors  in  those  wild 
regions ;  but  limited  space,  as  well  as  the  plan  of  this  work, 
forbid  going  beyond  our  own  territory. 

The  Menomonee  Mission  deserves  a  passing  notice.  It 
was  located  on  the  site  of  the  present  growing  city  of  Mari- 
nette, in  our  State,  and  the  Hon.  Isaac  Stevenson's  beautiful 
residence  covers  the  old  mission  premises.  The  mission  did 
not  eventuate  in  anything  permanent,  as  did  the  one  on 
Fox  River,  to  which  we  again  turn  attention. 

The  Oneidas  had  not  yet  found  their  abiding-place. 
They  soon  formed  a  treaty  with  the  Government,  by  which 
their  present  Reservation  was  secured  to  them ;  and  in  the 
summer  of  1833,  Superintendent  Clark  "  contracted  for  two 
houses — one  for  the  school,  and  the  other  for  the  teacher." 
Meanwhile,  Miss  Quinney  had  become  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Adams  ;  thus  the  resident  missionary  and  the  teacher  were 
of  the  same  household. 

No  harm  seems  to  have  come  to  the  mission  from  the 
removal  of  the  Oneidas  to  their  new  home.  In  May,  1834, 
when  Mr.  Clark  made  his  next  visit  to  them,  he  found  the 
mission  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  this  pious  couple 
comfortably  settled  in  a  new  log  house,  faithfully  prose- 
cuting their  work. 

The  residence  of  Superintendent  Clark  had  been  Sault 
de  St.  Marie,  on  the  Straits  between  Lakes  Superior  and 
Huron.  To  secure  a  more  central  location,  he  decided  in 
November,  1834,  to  remove  to  Green  Bay.  So  he  started 
with  his  family,  and  arrived  at  Mackinaw  on  the  5th  of 
December,  expecting  to  sail  thence  to  Green  Bay  ;  but,  to 
his  great  disappointment,  navigation  was  closed  for  the 
winter. 

Having  provided  as  comfortable  quarters  for  his  family 
as  he  could,  he  resumed  his  apostolic  journey  alone,  vm  De- 
troit, Ypsilanti,  Chicago,  Milwaukee,  and  Lake  Winnebago, 
arriving  at  the  Bay,  January  27,  1835.      This  was  a  long^ 


16  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

severe,  and  perilous  trip,  such  as  few  missionaries  have 
performed  in  any  age  or  land.  It  showed  the  moral  hero- 
ism of  the  man.  Mr.  Clark  found  the  mission  at  the  Bay 
quite  prosperous  under  the  labors  of  Kev.  George  White, 
of  whom  more  hereafter. 

The  Oneida  Mission  also  continued  to  grow  in  numbers 
and  future  promise  under  the  care  of  Daniel  Adams,  who 
had  gathered  a  society  of  forty  members.  About  this  time 
this  faithful  missionary  and  his  devoted  wife,  having  la- 
bored in  that  field  for  several  years  with  gratifying  success, 
removed  to  the  Indian  Territory  to  engage  in  similar  work 
among  the  Senecas  there,  who  spoke  the  same  language — 
the  Mohawk.  About  the  year  1844,  Mr.  Adams  "  rested 
from  his  labors,"  and  passed  on  to  his  reward,  honored  and 
lamented  by  those  for  whom  he  had  faithfully  toiled. 

For  a  time  the  school  was  under  the  care  of  Rolla  H. 
Chubb,  who,  in  1836,  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Sophia 
Mudgett  and  Miss  Ethelinda  Lee,  just  from  Newbury 
Seminary,  Vermont.  The  latter  opened  a  new  school 
about  four  miles  north  of  the  other,  in  a  house  secured  by 
a  permanent  lease,  as  was  supposed ;  but  in  less  than  a 
week  a  mob  composed  of  chiefs  and  others,  under  the  pas- 
toral charge  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  missionary,  razed 
it  to  the  ground.  Our  missions  in  this  region  had  been 
considerably  annoyed  by  the  Jesuits,  and  this  was  not  very 
surprising,  as  their  converts  were  lifted  but  little  above 
their  former  pagan  state  ;  but  that  any  branch  of  Prot- 
estant Christianity  should  exhibit  such  fiendish  opposition 
to  real  evangelistic  work  is  passing  strange,  even  though 
put  to  shame  for  their  inactivity  by  their  more  zealous 
neighbor. 

Up  to  this  time  Mr.  Clark  had  the  general  oversight 
of  all  the  missions  under  our  care,  extending  from  Oneida 
and  Green  Bay  to  Sault  de  St.  Marie;  thence  west  on 
the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Superior  to  Ke-wa-we-non — a 


INDIAN  MISSIONS.  17 

distance  of  about  four  hundred  miles  from  extreme  points. 
He  was  sent  out  by  the  New  York  Conference,  in  1832, 
as  already  stated ;  but  was  re-enforced  by  a  small  corps  of 
valiant  men  from  the  Troy  Conference,  such  as  Henry 
Whitehead,  Milton  Bourne,  and  D.  M.  Chandler.  In  the 
summer  of  1839  the  writer  was  one  of  four  ministers  that 
bore  the  latter  to  his  last  resting-place  in  Weedsport,  New 
York,  where  he  died  while  on  his  Avay  back  from  these 
wild  regions.  The  first  named  died  a  few  months  since, 
honored  and  loved  by  all  who  knew  him.  The  other — Mr. 
Bourne — is  still,  so  far  as  the  writer  is  informed,  on  this 
side  the  river.  Their  lay  and  native  helpers  are  probably 
all  in  the  home  of  the  faithful. 

Notwithstanding  the  vast  territory  over  which  the 
labors  of  these  men  extended,  the  Argus  eyes  of  the  inde- 
fatigable superintendent  were  ever  open  to  see  new  fields 
in  the  region  beyond.  So,  having  heard  that  a  large 
band  of  Chippewas — four  or  five  hundred — were  located 
at  a  point  about  midway  between  Lake  Superior  and  the 
Mississippi,  he  decided  at  once  to  establish  a  mission  among 
them,  if  practicable.  For  this  purpose  he  sent  three  trusty 
young  Chippewas — John  Tounchy,  George  Copway,  and 
Peter  Marksman — to  visit  the  settlement  and  open  the 
work  there.  The  place  was  on  a  lake  at  the  head  of  one  of 
the  principal  branches  of  the  Chippewa  Kiver,  called  by 
the  French  Lac  Court  Oreille  (Lac  Coort  Ora),  though 
called  by  the  Indians  Ottawa,  as  a  family  of  that  tribe  first 
settled  there. 

Several  adverse  circumstances  rendered  this  unsuccess- 
ful for  a  time.  The  next  summer  (July,  1836),  Mr.  Clark 
visited  the  place  himself,  was  treated  very  kindly  by  the 
chief  Moo-zoo-jeele  (Moose  Tail),  and  accomplished  his  ob- 
ject. He  left  Copway  and  Tounchy  in  charge  of  the  mis- 
sion, and  made  his  way  to  the  Mississippi,  about  two  hun- 
dred miles  above  Prairie  du  Chien.     Here  he  met  Rev.  A. 


18  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Brunson,  who  had  recently  been  sent  from  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  as  superintendent  of  the  Indian  missions  on 
the  Upper  Mississippi.  Of  this  pioneer  the  reader  will 
hear  more  hereafter. 

Thence  this  successor  of  St.  Paul  proceeded  to  Green 
Bay  via  the  Wisconsin  and  Fox  Rivers,  skirted  on  either 
hand  by  a  dense  wilderness,  little  thinking,  perhaps,  that 
within  a  half  century  the  country  all  along  would  bristle 
with  civilized  life,  and  such  cities  as  Portage,  Berlin,  Osh- 
kosh,  Neenah,  Menasha,  Appleton,  Kaukauna,  and  De 
Pere,  with  a  score  of  lesser  towns,  would  verify  the  proph- 
ecy, *'  The  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  shall  be  glad 
for  them,  and  the  desert  shall  rejoice  and  blossom  as 
the  rose." 

The  reader  will  be  able  to  form  a  conception  of  this 
apostolic  journey  by  these  reflections  of  the  missionary  after 
his  safe  return  : 

''1.  In  all  my  journey  of  eleven  weeks,  a  distance  of 
two  thousand  miles,  my  strength,  courage,  and  patience 
have  been  equal  to  my  day.     To  God  be  all  the  praise. 

'*  2.  The  more  I  travel  in  the  Indian  country,  the  more 
does  my  heart  long  for  their  salvation." 

Though  much  of  the  seed  sown  in  these  fields  seems  to 
have  fallen  on  stony  places,  there  is  good  reason  to  believe 
that  all  was  not  lost.  In  some  there  was  permanent  suc- 
cess, and  the  sowing  and  harvesting  are  still  going  on. 
And  even  in  some  cases  where  the  unsettled  habits  of  the 
Indians  may  appear  to  have  done  more  havoc  than  the 
fowls  of  the  air  or  the  shallow  soil,  the  seed  of  the  king- 
dom was,  perhaps,  carried  to  distant  places,  and  produced 
harvests  more  or  less  abundant.  This  tedious  and  perilous 
journey  was  concluded  in  September,  1836. 


ITS  BIRTHPLACE.  19 


CHAPTER  III. 
1832-5. 

WORK  AMONG  THE  WHITE  POPULATION. 

FOR  the  purpose  of  giving  a  connected  account  of  the 
Indian  missions,  some  synchronous  events  in  our  his- 
tory among  the  white  or  general  population  have  been 
passed.     To  these  we  now  turn. 

The  question  as  to  the  birthplace  of  ^Methodism  in  Wis- 
consin (except  our  work  among  the  Indians)  has  long 
been  in  doubt.  After  a  thorough  research,  the  following 
seem  to  be  all  the  ascertainable  facts : 

At  the  session  of  the  Illinois  Conference,  in  1828,  John 
Dew  was  appointed  to  Galena,  then  a  small  hamlet,  but 
the  head-quarters  of  the  lead-mining  interest  of  that  region. 
There  were  mining  camps  and  settlements  at  different 
points  in  Grant  and  Lafayette  Counties,  Wisconsin  ;  par- 
ticularly at  Gratiot's  Grove.  It  is  known  that  Mr.  Dew 
preached  at  some  of  these  places,  more  or  less,  in  the 
autumn  of  1828,  and  baptized  several  children  of  the 
miners. 

In  the  Galena  Advertiser  of  August  15,  1829,  attention 
is  called  to  a  "  two  days'  meeting  to  be  held  by  Rev.  J. 
Dew,  at  Mr.  Ahab  Bean's,  on  Fever  River,  about  twelve 
miles  from  this  place,  on  Saturday  and  Sabbath,  August 
21st  and  22d."* 

Fever  River  rises  in  Wisconsin,  a  few  miles  east  of 


*See  "Memorials  of  Methodism  in  Rock  River  Confer- 
ence," by  A.  D.  Field. 


20  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Platteville,  and  runs  nearly  due  south  in  its  general  course 
through  Galena ;  and  as  the  latter  place  is  about  six  miles 
from  the  southern  boundary  of  our  State,  the  said  meeting 
must  have  been  in  Wisconsin.  We  find  no  record  of  any 
Church  organization  in  these  places ;  but,  judging  from  the 
religious  proclivities  of  the  miners  in  after  years,  who  were 
mostly  Englishmen,  it  is  very  probable  that  some  of  them 
were  Methodists.  If  classes  were  formed  among  these,  the 
unsettled  state  of  things  may  account  for  the  failure  to 
transmit  the  records  to  us. 

Major  J.  H.  Rountree,  well  and  favorably  known 
throughout  our  State,  built  a  miner's  cabin  on  the  present 
site  of  Platteville,  1827.  On  the  7th  of  August,  1828,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Grace  Mitchell,  who  had  been  for 
four  years  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  settled  at  once  at  the  last-named  place. 

This  region  was  then  attracting  much  attention  on 
account  of  its  mineral  deposits.  It  was  known  as  the 
"Lead  Mines."  Outside  the  mines,  with  the  exception  of 
the  garrison  at  Fort  ^Howard,  and  French  trading-posts 
at  Green  Bay,  Prairie  du  Chien,  and  Milwaukee,  there 
was  not  a  white  settlement  in  the  vast  region  north  of 
Illinois,  and  probably  not  a  white  inhabitant.  The  beaver, 
the  badger,  the  wolf,  the  panther,  and  the  bear  held  un- 
disputed sway,  only  as  kept  in  check  at  the  points  just 
named,  and  by  the  native  sons  of  the  soil. 

From  a  letter  of  Major  Rountree  to  the  writer,  the 
following  facts  are  gleaned  :  In  the  month  of  April,  1832, 
a  Methodist  preacher  came  from  Indiana  to  Platteville  on 
Saturday,  and  stayed  with  him  till  Monday.  On  the 
Sabbath  he  preached,  held  a  class-meeting,  and  took  the 
names  of  those  present,  viz.  :  J.  H.  Rountree  and  wife, 
William  B.  Vineyard  and  wife.  Miss  Paine,  and  a  Mr. 
McMurry.  By  this  he  understood  that  the  preacher  in- 
tended to  form  a  class ;  but  it  seems  not  to  have  gone  to  organ- 


ITS  BIR  THPLA  CE.  2 1 

ization.  The  next  day  he  went  to  Galena,  and  hearing  that 
the  Blackhawk  (Indian)  War  was  to  be  prosecuted  through- 
out the  lead  region,  be  returned  to  Indiana.  It  is  a  matter 
of  regret  that  the  name  of  this  preacher,  being  now  un- 
known, can  not  go  into  our  chronicles.  Nor  can  it  now  be 
known  by  what  authority  he  visited  the  country.  But 
whatever  were  his  intentions  as  to  future  operations,  they 
were  thwarted  by  war  rumors,  which  filled  the  whole 
country  with  consternation. 

According  to  Dr.  W.  G.  Miller,  Colonel  Samuel  Ryan, 
who  had  been  a  Methodist  for  some  years,  came  to  Fort 
Howard  as  a  military  officer  in  1826,  began  to  hold  relig- 
ious services,  and  continued  them  till  the  arrival  of  Mis- 
sionary Clark.  He  then  says:  "Immediately  after  his 
arrival  he  began  his  labors,  preaching  the  first  Methodist 
sermon  within  the  limits  of  the  present  boundaries  of  our 
conference.  The  sermon  was  preached  to  both  soldiers 
and  citizens.  The  first  class  was  formed  by  Brother  Clark 
immediately  after,  the  services  being  held  in  the  fort. 
This  class  consisted  of  four  members,  as  follows :  Colonel 
Samuel  Ryan,  Sr.,  Mrs.  Sherman,  Mrs.  General  Brook, 
and  a  young  man  whose  name  can  not  be  given.  Mrs. 
Brook  was  the  wife  of  the  commandant  of  the  fort,  and 
Colonel  Ryan  was  the  class-leader. 

In  October,  1832,  John  T.  Mitchell  a  probationer  of 
one  year's  standing  in  Illinois  Conference,  was  appointed 
to  Galena  Mission.  Galena  was  the  emporium  of  the 
"Mineral  Region,"  the  largest  town  in  Northern  Illinois, 
far  in  advance  of  Chicago ;  and  yet  it  contained  only  about 
one  thousand  inhabitants,  many  of  whom  were  "  prospect- 
ing" for  mineral,  and  at  best  only  transient  residents. 
Being  near  the  northern  boundary  of  Illinois,  young 
Mitchell  extended  his  labors  among  the  miners  at  Platte- 
ville.  Mineral  Point,  Wiota,  and  Dodgeville — all  now 
points  of  importance  in  our  State — and  established  appoint- 


22  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

ments  Jit  each  place.  He  was  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Koiintree, 
of  Platteville,  and,  being  a  single  man,  made  her  house 
his  home  much  of  the  time. 

John  Clark,  whose  work  among  the  Indians  has  been 
described,  antedated  him  a  few  weeks  as  a  pioneer;  but 
Mr.  Mitchell  was  the  first  "  voice  crying  in  the  wilderness" 
to  the  white  population  within  the  present  boundaries  of 
Wisconsin  whose  work  took  organic  form. 

In  1833  Galena  was  connected  with  "  De  Buke" — so 
we  find  the  orthography — with  Barton  Randle  and  John 
T.  Mitchell  as  preachers.  It  was  in  some  way  arranged 
for  the  former  to  occupy  the  portion  of  this  field  west  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  the  latter,  that  east  of  it.  Thus  his 
work  was  substantially  the  same  as  the  previous  year.  If 
neither  could  say,  "The  world  is  my  parish,"  Mr.  Randle 
had  one  that  extended  from  the  "  Father  of  Waters  "  west 
to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  from  Missouri  north  to  the  Brit- 
ish Possessions ;  while  Mr.  Mitchell's  covered  more  than 
forty  thousand  square  miles,  so  far  as  pastoral  authority 
was  concerned. 

The  Conference  was  held  in  September,  1833,  and  on 
the  twenty-second  day  of  December  following,  Mr.  Mitchell 
formed  the  first  Methodist  Society,  and  dedicated  the  first 
Methodist  "meeting-house"  west  of  Lake  Michigan,  ex- 
cept the  mission-work  at  and  near  Green  Bay.  This  was 
in  Platteville.  The  edifice  thus  set  apart  for  public  wor- 
ship was  formerly  occupied  by  Major  Rountree,  then  Ter- 
ritorial Judge,  as  his  court-room.  But  it  was  recon- 
structed, seated,  furnished  with  a  pulpit  made  by  the 
preacher  himself;  and  so,  decidedly  orthodox,  if  not  ele- 
gant. It  was  sixteen  feet  square,  one  story  high,  and 
built  of  small  logs.  In  this  humble  structure  the  class 
was  formed — the  nucleus  of  a  large,  influential  Church. 
It  consisted  of  six  members — Mrs.  Rountree  and  Miss 
Ellen  A.  Mitchell,  sisters  of  the  preacher,  and  four  others 


ITS  BIR  THPLA  CE.  23 

whose  names  can  not  go  into  this  history ;  but  we  trust 
they  are  in  the  "  Book  of  Life." 

This  may  be  deemed  a  small  beginning.  Be  it  so.  It 
was  nevertheless  a  beginning.  Besides,  there  was  then  but 
one  jNIethodist  church  edifice  within  the  Rock  River  Confer- 
ence.    That  was  in  Galena,  dedicated  a  few  weeks  before.  ^ 

From  the  foregoing  it  is  reasonable  to  conclude  that 
Colonel  Ryan  was  the  first  lay  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  on  our  soil ;  that  Mrs.  Rountree  was 
the  second  ;  that  the  first  religious  services  of  any  sort, 
conducted  by  a  Methodist  within  the  present  limits  of 
AVisconsin,  were  in  the  garrison  at  Fort  Howard,  and  led 
by  Colonel  Ryan;  that  the  first  sermon  m-eached,  and 
the  first  baptismal  ceremonies  performed  by  a  Methodist 
preacher  within  the  same  limits,  were  at  or  near  Gratiot's 
Grove,  by  John  Dew,  the  latter  part  of  1828 ;  that  the  second 
Methodist  sermon  and  the  first  class-meeting  known  to  have 
been  held,  were  at  Platteville,  in  the  spring  of  1832,  con- 
ducted by  a  preacher  whose  name  is  lost  to  our  history ; 
that  in  July,  1832,  John  Clark  preached  the  first  Methodist 
sermon  in  what  is  now  Wisconsin  Conference,  and  formed 
the  first  class  within  the  present  boundaries  of  our  State ; 
that  John  T.  Mitchell  is  the  fourth  Methodist  preacher  on 
Wisconsin  soil,  and  the  first  one  sent  to  labor  among  the 
white  population,  known  to  have  organized  societies  or 
taken  any  measures  to  provide  a  special  place  for  public 
worship  for  them.  Both  these  were  done  December 
23,  1833. 

If  the  pilgrim  preacher  who  visited  the  place  in  1832 
intended  to  form  a  class,  he  left  no  record  of  it,  and  it 
was  not  perpetuated.     Hence  the  former  date  must  be  re- 


*  In  the  summer  of  1850,  Mr.  Mitchell,  while  on  a  visit  to 
Platteville,  related  the  facts  concerning  the  formation  of  the 
class  and  the  little  log  chapel  to  the  writer,  then  pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  there. 


24  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

garded  as  the  true  natal  day  of  Methodism  in  Platteville. 
Those  lay  pioneers,  Colonel  Ryan  and  Mrs.  Rountree,  de- 
serve further  notice. 

Mr.  Ryan  was  born  in  Ireland  on  the  22d  of  May, 
1789.  In  early  life  he  entered  the  United  States  military 
service,  in  which  he  continued  several  years.  He  was 
in  the  War  of  1812-1814,  and  was  wounded  in  the  en- 
gagement between  the  Shannon  and  the  Chesapeake,  on  the 
1st  of  June,  1813.  He  was  converted  in  1821,  while 
garrisoned  in  Sackett's  Harbor,  New  York,  and  joined  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  soon  after  removed 
to  Sault  de  St.  Marie.  Here  he  must  have  had  a  severe 
trial  of  his  faith.  There  was  no  chaplain  in  this  garrison, 
and  the  corrupting  influences  of  the  post  were  hard  to 
stem.  But  he  remained  faithful,  both  as  a  soldier  of  the 
Cross  and  of  his  adopted  country.  He  held  frequent  re- 
ligious services,  and  many  were  converted  to  God.  Com- 
ing to  Fort  Howard,  he  continued  the  same  good  work, 
and  thus  is  entitled  to  be  regarded  as  the  Barbara  Heck 
and  the  Captain  Webb  of  Wisconsin  Methodism. 

A  few  years  after,  he  became  register  in  the  Govern- 
ment Land-office  at  Green  Bay.  This  was  removed  to 
Menosha  in  1852,  but  he  remained  in  the  same  office  for 
several  years.  The  writer  enjoyed  an  intimate  acquaintance 
with  him  for  many  years,  and  most  cheerfully  bears  testi- 
mony to  his  great  moral  worth.  Though  impulsive,  and 
occasionally  a  little  indiscreet,  he  was  never  jostled  from  a 
fixed  purpose  of  loyalty  to  his  convictions  of  duty.  He 
died  in  the  spring  of  1876. 

Mrs.  Rountree  had  a  shorter  pilgrimage.  She  died,  at 
her  home  in  Platteville,  on  the  16th  of  October,  1837. 
Her  honored  husband,  who  has  survived  her  more  than 
forty  years,  bears  this  brief  but  expressive  testimony  of  this 
noble  woman:  "  She  had  lived  a  most  exemplary  Christian 
life,  and  her  last  words  were,  '  Jesus  is  with  me.' 


>  »> 


ANNALS  OF  1S3^ 


zo 


The  reader  may  wonder  that  no  Church  organization 
was  formed  in  the  mining  country  for  a  year  or  more  after 
the  energetic  Mitchell  commenced  his  labors  there.  But 
when  we  remember  that  the  inhabitants  were,  almost  with- 
out exception,  in  quest  of  mineral,  ready  to  pack  up  any 
day  and  move  on  to  a  more  promising  "  digging,"  and  also 
that  the  entire  "  "West,"  in  which  this  country  was  included, 
was  in  a  feverish  excitement  on  account  of  the  ''Black 
Hawk  War,"  we  shall  find  the  explanation. 

This  beginning  of  organized  work  among  the  white  pop- 
ulation on  our  soil  was  in  connection  with  the  Illinois  Con- 
ference. Thus  it  continued  until#the  formation  of  the  Rock 
River  Conference  in  1840.  Sn  1832  it  was  in  the  Quincy 
District,  with  Peter  Cartwright  presiding  elder,  and  in 
1833,  in  Chicago  District,  John  Sinclair  presiding  elder. 
There  is  no  evidence  that  either  of  them  ever  set  foot  on 
our  territory.  No  further  notice,  therefore,  is  accorded 
them  here  than  to  say  that  both  were  distinguished  minis- 
ters of  our  Church.  The  former  became  almost  world-wide 
in  reputation — the  only  man  in  the  history  of  Methodism 
that  was  fifty  years  a  presiding  elder. 

1834. 

In  1834,  Iowa  Mission  appears  in  the  Conference  ap- 
pointments, with  L.  Bevins  as  preacher.  The  name  is 
from  Iowa  County,  and  the  mission  included  all  the  mining 
region  in  what  is  now  Wisconsin.  It  was  included  in 
Galena  District,  formed  this  year,  with  Hooper  Crews  as 
presiding  elder. 

Mr.  Bevins  appears  in  the  list  of  appointments  this  year 
first  and  last.  In  1836  he  located.  He  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  mining,  near  Platteville,  and  after  a  few  years 
**  struck  a  lead,"  which,  it  was  said,  yielded  fifty-five  thou- 
sand dollars'  worth  of  mineral.  He  died  not  long  after 
this  success,    leaving    an    amiable    wife — a   sister    of   Dr. 


26  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Kicbard  Haney — and  several  lovely  children.  lu  1849  the 
writer,  on  entering  upon  his  pastorate  there,  found  them  still 
pursuing  the  way  to  Zion. 

During  this  year  (1834)  the  little  sixteen-feet-square 
church  at  Platteville  was  abandoned  as  a  house  of  worship, 
and  the  young  society  took  possession  of  a  larger  structure, 
built  of  hewn  logs,  designed  for  the  double  purpose  of 
teaching  the  "young  mind  how  to  shoot,"  and  older  ones 
"  the  way  of  salvation." 

The  Minutes  of  Oneida  Conference,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  for  1834,  show  that  George  White  was  appointed 
missionary  to  Green  Bay.  As  there  is  no  intimation  given 
that  his  labors  were  to  be  in  connection  with  the  Indians, 
it  is  very  probable  that  he  was  to  serve  the  white  popula- 
tion. Yet  he  was  under  the  superintendence  of  Missionary 
Clark,  as  appears  from  the  following  extract  from  the 
"Life  of  Clark,"  page  153: 

"  On  his  arrival  at  Green  Bay  he  found  the  state  of  the 
mission  quite  prosperous  under  the  labors  of  Kev.  George 
White,  who  had  that  post  in  charge.  Mr.  White  sent  a 
communication  to  the  Board  about  this  time,  in  which  he 
bears  strong  testimony  to  the  faithfulness  and  zeal  of  the 
superintendent." 

This  refers  to  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Clark  from  Sault  de 
St.  Marie  via  Chicago,  already  described.  It  was  in  Jan- 
uary, 1835,  a  few  months  after  Mr.  White  reached  the 
place.  Why  this  should  be  the  only  allusion  to  him  in 
connection  with  Mr.  Clark's  work,  is  marvelous,  as  he  was 
at  that  post  for  two  years. 

From  Iowa  Mission,  in  Galena  District,  were  reported 
eighty  members — the  only  report  from  what  is  now  Wis- 
consin, for  the  Conference  year  1834-5. 
1835. 

This  year  Alfred  Bronson,  late  of  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference, was  put  in  charge  of  Galena  District,  and  also  of 


ANNALS  OF  1835.  27 

the  Indian  missions  on  the  Upper  Mississippi.  Iowa  Cir- 
cuit, still  including  all  our  work  in  the  mineral  region,  was 
one  of  the  appointments.  It  was  a  large  field,  involving 
a  great  amount  of  travel  and  many  privations.  James 
Hadley  was  the  preacher.  He  came  from  Southern  Illinois, 
a  long  distance  for  that  time.  Rev.  J.  Crummer,  then 
residing  on  his  circuit,  describes  him  as  "  a  good,  laborious 
Methodist  preacher;"  says  ''he  kept  to  his  work,"  and 
adds:  "  A  man  that  would  do  that  in  those  days  had  good 
Methodist  preacher  timber  in  him."  He  evidently  did  his 
work  well,  as  he  reported  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  mem- 
bers— a  gain  of  seventy  per  cent.  This  was  his  first  and 
last  year  on  our  territory.  It  is  supposed  he  has  long 
since  ''crossed  the  flood." 

This  year  Milwaukee — hitherto  unknown  to  Method- 
ism— is  found  in  the  list  of  appointments  included  in 
Chicago  District,  W.  B.  Mack,  presiding  elder;  and  M. 
Robinson,  preacher  in  charge.  It  seems,  from  the  best 
available  authority,  that  Mr.  Robinson  was  in  the  place, 
and  preached  the  first  Methodist  sermon  there  in  June, 
1835;  but  the  mission  was  not  formed  till  the  autumn  fol- 
lowing, when  he  was  received  on  trial  by  the  Illinois  Con- 
ference, and  appointed  in  charge  of  it. 

On  the  19th  of  January,  that  same  year,  John  Clark 
reached  what  he  calls  "  the  mouth  of  Milwaukee  River," 
on  his  memorable  journey  from  Sault  de  St.  Marie  to  Green 
Bay,  already  alluded  to,  and  was  "kindly  entertained  at 
the  house  of  Solomon  Juneau,"  a  Frenchman,  who  had  long 
been  an  Indian  trader — the  first  white  settler  there.  But 
as  he  makes  no  mention  of  any  other  inhabitants,  and  as 
the  first  purchase  of  public  land  in  that  region  was  made 
by  Mr.  Juneau  on  the  31st  of  August,  1835 — the  earliest 
date  at  which  it  could  be  purchased — there  could  have  been 
but  few  settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  our  present  growing 
metropolis.     Indeed,  there  seems  to  have  been  nothing  like 


28  METHOmSM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

immigration  till  the  spring  of  1835,  thougli  about  a  year 
before  two  or  three  young  men  settled  on  Milwaukee  River, 
three  or  four  miles  from  its  mouth,  and  erected  a  saw-mill. 

From  all  this,  it  is  a  fair  inference  that  Mr.  Robinson 
worked  up  such  an  interest  during  the  summer  as  to  justify 
the  establishment  of  a  mission  there.  Within  this  mission 
were  several  preaching-places,  and  from  the  work  fifty- 
three  members  were  reported  at  the  next  Conference.  The 
class  in  Milwaukee  was  formed  in  the  summer  of  1836, 
and  consisted  of  David  Worthington,  Mrs.  S.  Brown, 
Mrs.  Firman,  and  Mrs.  LowTy.  The  writer  has  not  been 
able  to  obtain  the  names  of  others,  if  there  were  any ;  nor 
yet  the  dates  of  other  classes  on  the  charge,  or  the  names 
of  the  members. 

Small  though  this  was,  it  was  doubtless  the  first  relig- 
ious organization  in  the  limits  of  our  metropolis.  The  next 
was  probably  the  Presbyterian  Church,  formed  in  1837. 

Of  the  subsequent  history  of  Mr.  Robinson,  who  did 
such  heroic  work  in  and  about  Milwaukee,  we  know  little. 
His  name  appears  no  more  in  the  Conference  Minutes,  from 
which  fact  it  is  probable  that  he  retired  to  the  local  ranks. 

The  report  of  members  this  year  was  as  follows :  Iowa 
Mission,  136;  Milwaukee,  53;  Prairie  du  Chien,  10; 
Oneida,  48  ;  Green  Bay,  34 ;  total,  281 — more  than  three 
times  the  number  of  the  preceding  year.  The  ministerial 
force  increased  from  two  to  eleven.  This  increase  is  partly 
due  to  the  fact  that  Green  Bay  and  Oneida  reported  this 
year  for  the  first  time  to  the  Illinois  Conference. 


ANNALS  OF  1836.  29 


CHAPTER  IV. 
1836. 

THIS  year  the  Territory  of  Wisconsin  was  organized, 
including  the  present  area  of  Iowa  and  Wisconsin. 
This  was  an  important  epoch  in  the  history  of  this  country. 
Immigration  increased  rapidly,  and  new  settlements  ap- 
peared in  all  directions.  The  Michigan  Conference  Avas 
formed  in  May,  and  included  the  entire  territory  embraced 
in  the  State  as  it  now  is,  thus  taking  in  all  the  Indian 
missions  in  the  vicinity  of  Sault  de  St.  Marie.  The  rest 
were  placed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Illinois  Conference, 
to  which  Missionary  Clark  was  transferred  at  the  ensuing 
session  of  the  New  York  Conference. 

At  the  Conference  in  October  following  he  was  ap- 
pointed presiding  elder  of  Chicago  District,  and  Alfred 
Bronson  of  Galena  District.  The  former  included  our 
work  in  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Michigan ;  the  latter,  that  in 
the  western  part  of  the  State.  Seven  pastoral  charges  on 
our  territory  appear  this  year  in  the  Minutes  of  Illinois 
Conference,  instead  of  two  of  the  previous  year.  But  this 
increase  came  from  change  of  jurisdiction  and  division  of 
circuits. 

George  White,  who,  as  we  have  seen,  had  been  for  two 
years  missionary  at  Green  Bay,  by  appointment  from 
Oneida  Conference,  in  New  York,  was  transferred  to  Illi- 
nois Conference,  but  was  to  continue  in  charge  of  the  work 
at  the  Bay  until  the  session  of  the  last-named  body.  He 
did  so,  and  then  located.  He  subsequently  became  a  clerk 
in  some  department  of  the  Government  at  Washington, 
and  died  several  years  ago. 


30  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Milwaukee  Mission  became  two  bands — Milwaukee  Sta- 
tion and  Root  River  Mission,  with  William  S.  Crissey  in 
charge  of  the  former,  and  S.  Pillsbury  of  the  latter. 

Up  to  this  time  nothing  is  known  as  to  the  place  in 
which  the  young  society  held  meetings — probably  as  in 
other  localities,  in  some  private  house.  In  December  of 
this  year  Leverett  S.  Kellog  came  to  the  place,  and  identi- 
fied himself  with  the  struggling  Church.  He  was  a  car- 
penter, and  had  a  shop  on  the  corner  of  Huron  and  East 
Water  Streets.  This  became  their  place  of  worship  for 
several  months.  Mr.  Kellog  will  come  under  notice  more 
prominently  in  due  time. 

The  two  pastoral  charges  above  named  seem  to  have 
been  prosperous,  as  from  them  were  reported  at  the  next 
Conference  one  hundred  and  fifteen  members. 

At  the  close  of  this  year,  Mr.  Crissey  passed  into  Illinois. 
So  far  as  appears,  the  first  quarterly  meeting  in  Milwaukee 
was  held  by  John  Clark,  January  8th  and  9th,  1837. 

Iowa  Circuit  gave  place  to  Platteville  and  Mineral  Point 
Circuits,  with  Collon  D.  James  and  James  W.  Haney, 
preachers  on  the  former,  and  Richard  Haney  and  John 
Crummer  on  the  latter.  Platteville  Circuit  embraced  all 
the  settlements  in  Grant  County,  and  in  the  western  part 
of  Lafayette;  Mineral  Point,  all  the  rest  of  the  settled 
country  west  and  southwest  of  Madison.  Probably  each 
had  from  fifteen  to  twenty  "preaching-places." 

Prairie  du  Chien  seems  to  have  been  formerly  included 
in  the  Upper  Mississippi  Indian  missions,  so  far  as  supplied 
at  all.  It  now  embraced  all  white  settlements  north 
of  the  Wisconsin  River.  David  King,  the  pastor,  began 
the  year  with  ten  members,  and  closed  it  with  twenty-nine. 

In  the  winter  of  1836-7,  J.  Crummer  and  William 
Haney  were  exchanged.  Thus  the  former  became  the 
junior  preacher  on  Platteville  Circuit,  and  the  latter  on 
Mineral  Point.     These  preachers  w^ere  all  young,  both  in 


ANNALS  OF  1836.  31 

years  and  in  the  ministry.  Mr.  James  had  been  connected 
with  the  conference  but  two  years ;  Mr,  K.  Haney,  one  ; 
and  the  others  had  just  been  received  on  trial.  They  all 
seem  to  have  been  successful  in  their  work.  From  Platte- 
ville  were  reported  at  the  next  conference  one  hundred 
and  thirty  members ;  from  Mineral  Point,  seventy-eight. 

The  country  was  new,  the  inhabitants  few  and  poor, 
and  yet  living  w^as  somewhat  expensive.  But  these  pio- 
neers, with  no  missionary  funds  to  aid  them,  toiled  on,  en- 
dured many  hardships,  and,  almost  self-supported,  laid  the 
foundation  for  flourishing  Churches.  Richard  Haney  taught 
school  in  Mineral  Point  for  six  months,  thus  making  the 
burden  lighter  for  the  feeble  circuit.  There  was  a  small 
society  there,  but  no  church  edifice,  as  we  shall  see  in  due 
time.  He  "preached  in  what  was  called  the  court-house," 
evidently  a  building  in  which  were  held  all  public  gather- 
ings, though  primarily  designed  for  judicial  purposes. 

As  Mr.  Haney's  time  was  divided  between  his  circuit 
work  and  his  school,  he  could  do  but  little  in  the  former 
beyond  meeting  his  regular  appointments.  These  were 
Mineral  Point,  Dodgeville,  Willow  Springs,  Helena,  Ham- 
ilton Grove,  and  Pedlar's  Creek.  At  the  latter  place  he 
formed  a  class  consisting  of  three  Cornish  miners,  all  bach- 
elors, living  in  one  cabin.  He  formed  one  also  at  Hamil- 
ton's Grove.  One  of  the  members,  William  Kimball,  first 
discovered  copper  in  Wisconsin.  In  a  letter  to  the  writer, 
Mr.  Haney  quaintly  remarks,  *'  The  greater  part  of  my 
sheep  were  late  lambs,"  thus  indicating  that  most  of  his 
visible  success  appeared  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year. 

The  names  of  R.  Haney,  W.  S.  Crissey,  C.  D.  James, 
and  J.  W.  Haney  appear  for  the  first  and  last  time  in 
connection  with  AVisconsin.  They  all  passed  into  fields 
further  south,  Richard  Haney  became  prominent  in  the 
Rock  River  Conference,  and  after  several  years  fell  into 
the  Central   Illinois   Conference  by  division  of  territory, 


32  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

where  be  continued  to  rise  in  eminence  among  his  brethren, 
whom  he  has  several  times  represented  in  General  Confer- 
ences. He  is  now  an  octogenarian,  in  the  fifty-fourth  year 
of  the  itinerant  ministry,  never  having  lost  a  month  from 
active  service.  Few  men  have  a  brighter  record  than 
the  present  Dr.  Richard  Haney. 

Of  Mr.  James  less  is  known.  His  colleague  bears  testi- 
mony to  his  great  fidelity  and  earnestness  as  a  minister  of 
the  gospel. 

J.  W.  Haney's  name  does  not  appear  in  the  list  of  ap- 
pointments the  next  year. 

Two  events  worthy  of  note  marked  the  latter  part  of 
this  Conference  year.  One  is,  the  advent  to  Platteville  of 
Rev.  Samuel  Mitchell,  called  by  everybody,  ''  Father 
Mitchell."  As  he  was  so  conspicuous  in  various  ways,  a  brief 
account  of  him  may  be  given  here,  though  he  will  come  to 
view  occasionally  in  the  following  pages.  He  was  a  native 
of  Virginia ;  had  inherited  twenty-five  slaves,  and  held 
them  as  such  till  he  became  a  Christian.  He  then  eman- 
cipated them,  and  after  a  while  moved  to  Southern  Illinois, 
taking  with  him  those  who  were  disposed  to  go,  and  pro- 
vided them  homes  as  far  as  he  could.  Thus  he  showed 
the  thoroughness  of  his  conversion.  When  he  came  to 
Platteville  he  was  upwards  of  seventy  years  of  age,  having 
been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for 
about  fifty  years,  and  a  local  preacher  about  forty.  He 
was  the  father  of  Rev.  J.  T.  Mitchell,  who  formed  the  first 
Methodist  class  in  Platteville,  and  of  Mrs.  Rountree  and 
Miss  Ellen  Mitchell,  two  of  its  members;  also  of  Revs. 
James  and  Frank  F.  Mitchell,  who  will  come  to  view 
hereafter.  About  1855  he  removed  to  Missouri,  to  spend 
his  last  days  with  his  last-named  son,  where  he  soon 
died.  His  remains  were  taken  back  to  his  Machpelah  in 
Platteville,  and  laid  beside  those  of  his  wife,  deposited  there 
in  1842. 


ANNALS  OF  1386.  33 

The  other  event  is  the  erection  of  a  new  house  of  wor- 
ship. It  was  built  during  the  summer  of  1837,  and  dedi- 
cated late  in  August  or  early  in  September.  Rev.  W. 
Weigley,  then  stationed  at  Galena,  preached  the  dedicatory 
sermon,  using  for  his  text  a  passage  from  the  Song  of  Sol- 
omon (chapter  vi,  verse  10):  "Who  is  she  that  looketh 
forth  as  the  morning,  fair  as  the  moon,  clear  as  the  sun, 
and  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners?"  As  we  look  back 
through  the  years  of  successful  conflict  in  connection  with 
that  Church,  the  text  seems  a  prophecy.  The  building  was 
thirty  by  forty  feet,  elevated  on  a  stone  foundation  of  suffi- 
cient height  for  a  basement  above  ground.  It  was  prob- 
ably the  first  edifice  erected  by  our  people  in  the  Territory, 
designed  exclusively  for  a  place  of  worship.  The  church 
at  Green  Bay  was  built  during  the  same  year ;  but  as  the 
time  of  its  dedication  can  not  be  ascertained,  this  must  take 
precedence.  In  it  the  Rock  River  Conference  held  its 
second  session,  commencing  August  25,  1841.* 

On  the  13th  of  November,  1836,  Rev.  H.  W.  Frink, 
so  long  and  so  favorably  known  by  us,  reached  a  point 
about  three  miles  from  the  present  site  of  Green  Bay  City, 
on  a  sailing  vessel.  It  was  Saturday,  and  late  in  the  even- 
ing. He  says  there  were  on  board  "  nine  passengers,  seven 
adults  and  two  children.  Of  this  number,  six  w^ere  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church."  As  the  vessel 
could  not  make  the  port,  he  and  a  few  others  whose  souls 
longed  **  for  the  courts  of  the  Lord,"  found  a  way  to  reach 
the  shore  in  quest  of  some  place  of  worship.  They  were 
successful.  The  disciples  there  had  assembled  for  a  prayer- 
meeting. 


*The  reader  will  remember  that  the  immediate  predeces- 
sor of  this,  as  well  as  the  mission-houses  at  Green  Bay,  were 
intended  in  part  for  school  purposes  ;  and  the  little  log  church 
at  Platteville  was  at  first  a  court-room. 

3 


34  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Mr.  Frink  describes  this  and  attending  circumstances 
thus:  ''The  prayer-meeting  was  held  in  the  only  school- 
house  and  only  place  for  religious  worship,  save  that  at  the 
barracks  at  the  fort.  In  this  school- house  there  was 
preaching  on  the  Sabbath,  and  prayer-meeting  in  the  even- 
ing. This  meeting  was  a  very  excellent  one.  Persons 
present,  Colonel  Samuel  Ryan,  George  and  William  White, 
George  Dorrance,  John  Driggs,  and  many  others.  In  this 
house  I  preached  my  first  sermon  to  citizens,  officers,  and 
soldiers ;  here  I  received  a  recommendation  to  the  travel- 
ing connection  ;  here  I  first  formed  an  acquaintance  with 
John  Clark,  of  precious  memory,  presiding  elder  of  Chi- 
cago District.  This  district  was  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Lake  Superior ;  on  the  South  by  Ottawa,  Illinois ;  on  the 
east  by  Lake  Michigan ;  on  the  west  by  the  verge  of  civ- 
ilization." 

The  fort  above  mentioned  was  "Fort  Howard," on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river,  for  a  long  time  a  military  post. 

Mr.  Frink  further  says:  "The  first  quarterly  meeting 
for  the  year  was  held  on  the  22d  of  January,  1837." 

This  w^as  not  only  the  first  of  that  year,  but  the  first 
one  ever  held  at  any  point  nearer  than  Milwaukee,  and 
held  by  the  same  man  that,  on  the  15th  of  September, 
1832,  formed  a  class  of  twenty-five  Oneida  Indians,  dedi- 
cated the  first  Methodist  church  edifice,  and  held  the  first 
Methodist  sacramental  service  on  Wisconsin  soil. 

The  presiding  elder  secured  the  services  of  Mr.  Frink 
for  some  point  in  Illinois,  and  together  they  started  on  a 
dreary  journey  for  Chicago,  on  the  23d  of  January,  1837. 
Their  way  had  been  somewhat  prepared  for  them  by  a 
military  force.  The  case  was,  in  brief,  this :  Fort  Dear- 
born, in  what  was  then  the  little  hamlet  of  Chicago,  had 
long  been  occupied  as  a  United  States  garrison.  It  was 
built  in  1803  or  1804.  In  1812,  about  fifty  who  had  sur- 
rendered to  the  Indians,  under  promise  of  protection,  were 


ANNALS  OF  1836,  35 

massacred,  and  the  fort  destroyed.  It  ,was  rebuilt  in  1816, 
and  occupied  by  a  small  army  until  about  this  time,  when 
they  were  ordered  to  Fort  Howard,  at  the  head  of  Green 
Bay,  in  Wisconsin.  Most  of  the  buildings  were  torn  down, 
but  two  remained  until  the  great  fire  in  1871.  The  im- 
mense wholesale  house  of  W.  M.  Hoyt  &  Co.,  on  the  cor- 
ner of  River  Street  and  Michigan  Avenue,  stands  on  the 
site  of  the  old  fort.  This  military  force  cut  its  way 
through  forests,  whenever  these  were  encountered,  which 
was  a  large  part  of  the  distance  after  reaching  the  south- 
ern border  of  our  State.  This  was  long  known  as  the 
''  Military  Road." 

Bu^  for  this  road  our  itinerants  would  have  found  their 
journey  far  more  difficult,  if  not  utterly  impossible.  As 
it  was,  it  did  not  very  much  resemble  a  trip  in  a  palace 
car.  The  reader  will  appreciate  this  on  reading  a  descrip- 
tion given  by  Mr.  Frink  of  one  night's  lodging.  After 
stating  that  they  found  one  of  the  camp-fires,  made  by  the 
soldiers  of  large  logs,  still  burning,  he  says:  "With  our 
horses  hitched  to  a  tree,  our  feet  to  the  fire,  the  earth  for 
our  bed,  and  the  heavens  for  our  house,  we  slept,  without 
fear  of  being  robbed  by  tramps.  Though  the  woods  were 
alive  with  wolves  and  other  animals,  they  did  not  disturb 
us."  Thus  was  the  promise  verified,  in  which  they  may 
have  trusted — ''They  shall  dwell  safely  in  the  wilderness, 
and  sleep  in  the  woods." 

But,  unpleasant  as  was  this  trip,  it  was  far  less  so 
than  the  one  already  described,  made  by  Mr.  Clark,  from 
Chicago  to  Green  Bay,  in  January,  1835.  Comparing 
them,  he  says:  "Two  years  ago  not  an  American  family 
resided  between  Chicago  and  Milwaukee  ;  now  the  country 
is  thickly  settled  by  farmers,  mechanics,  merchants,  etc., 
while  the  moral  aspect  of  the  country  is  really  encouraging. 
From  Milwaukee  to  Green  Bay,  by  the  lake  road,  I  found 
a  place  of  rest,  with  food  for  man  and  beast  three  nights." 


36  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Now  (in  1890),  instead  of  a  small  hamlet  at  Chicago, 
and  an  Indian  trading-post  at  Milwaukee,  the  traveler 
will  find  one  city  containing  a  million,  and  another  more 
than  two  hundred  thousand  inhabitants,  with  numerous 
villages  and  cities  intervening,  while  the  whole  country  is 
humming  with  a  dense  population. 

Early  in  this  conference  year  the  mission  property  at 
Menominee  was  sold,  and  tjie  post  abandoned.  Such 
were  the  nomadic  habits  of  this  tribe,  and  such  the  cor- 
rupting influences  from  the  rude  white  people  that  had 
been  their  only  teachers  for  a  long  period,  that  no  per- 
manent fruits  followed  our  work  there. 

Oneida  and  Green  Bay,  that  had  previously  been  sup- 
plied with  missionaries  from  Eastern  conferences,  appear  this 
year  in  the  Minutes  of  Illinois  Conference,  with  Daniel  Poe  in 
charge  of  the  former,  and  Philip  W.  Nichols,  of  the  latter. 
Oneida  began  the  year  with  48  members,  and  closed  it 
with  82  ;  Green  Bay  began  with  34,  and  closed  with  44. 

It  should  be  remembered  that  the  first  class  known  to 
have  been  formed  within  our  Territory  was  in  connection 
with  the  garrison  in  Fort  Howard  ;  and  the  next  was  at 
the  Indian  mission  near  Kaukauna — both  by  John  Clark. 
The  former  was  the  nucleus  of  the  Church  at  Green  Bay. 

On  the  6th  of  September,  1836,  a  deed  of  a  lot  for  a 
church  edifice  was  executed  to  a  duly  constituted  Board  of 
Trustees.  It  was  in  the  part  of  the  town  then  known  as 
Astor,  the  same  being  a  part  of  a  large  tract  owned  by 
that  New  York  millionaire,  John  Jacob  Astor.  A  house 
of  worship  was  begun  in  1836,  and  finished  in  1837.  It 
was  a  frame  building,  the  second  of  the  kind  erected  in 
the  Territory,  and  the  second  of  any  kind  built  originally 
and  exclusively /or  a  church  by  any  religious  denomina- 
tion. In  size  it  was  thirty-four  by  forty-eight  feet,  and 
cost  about  one  thousand  dollars.  The  society  being  weak, 
an  embarrassing  debt  was  incurred,  which  crippled  them 


ANNALS  OF  2SS6.  37 

for  about  teu  years,  when  it  was  sold  to  the  French 
Catholics,  of  which  more  hereafter.  The  whole  number 
reported  at  the  next  Conference  was  478 — an  increase  of 
about  sixty  per  cent. 

As  this  year  closes  the  official  relation  of  that  dis- 
tinguished minister.  Rev.  John  Clark,  to  Wisconsin  Meth- 
odism, more  than  a  parting  word  is  befitting.  His  pre- 
vious labors  have  already  been  sketched.  He  remained 
in  charge  of  Chicago  District  the  full  term  of  four  years; 
then  the  demands  of  the  work  in  Texas  kindled  anew  the 
old  missionary  tire  that  still  burned  within  him,  and  he 
offered  himself  for  that  distant  field.  He  saw  toil  and 
sacrifice  before  him,  but  these  were  light  when  duty  was 
in  the  opposite  scale. 

Texas  had  just  thrown  off  the  heavy  Mexican  yoke, 
and  the  heavier  despotism  of  Rome.  Her  affairs  were 
still  in  a  somewhat  chaotic  state,  but  she  was  sighing  for 
a  better  civilization  and  a  better  form  of  religion.  On 
her  soil  was  evidently  to  be  a  severe  conflict  between  the 
Beast  and  the  Lamb  of  Revelation,  and  Clark  was  ready 
for  the  emergency.  He  started  on  the  4th  of  October, 
1841,  in  a  private  carriage,  with  wife  and  son,  on  a  trip 
of  a  thousand  miles,  and  reached  San  Augustine,  the  seat 
of  the  newly  formed  Texas  Conference,  on  the  eighteenth 
day  of  November. 

He  was  a  delegate  to  the  memorable  General  Confer- 
ence of  1844,  and  on  the  great  question  that  agitated 
that  body,  voted  with  the  North.  This  rendered  his  posi- 
tion in  Texas  very  unpleasant.  He  returned,  and  became 
connected  with  the  Troy  Conference,  with  which  he  re- 
mained till  1852,  when  he  took  a  transfer  to  Rock  River 
Conference,  and  was  stationed  at  Clark  Street  Church, 
Chicago.  Here  he  not  only  performed  his  ordinary  work, 
with  usual  success,  but  had  the  rare  opportunity  of  aiding 
somewhat  in   originating  an  institution  that   has  already 


38  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

been  an  untold  blessing  to  the  Great  West,  and  is  destined, 
we  trust,  to  go  on  in  its  career  of  usefulness  to  the  end 
of  time. 

It  was  on  this  wise :  Mrs.  Eliza  Garrett,  a  wealthy  and 
devoted  widow  lady,  member  of  his  Church,  desired  to  do 
something  to  aid  young  men  in  preparing  for  the  min- 
istry. She  consulted  her  pastor  as  to  the  most  effective 
way  to  accomplish  her  purpose.  The  result  was  the  con- 
secration of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  found  what  is 
now  known  as  Garrett  Biblical  Institute — a  worthy  monu- 
ment to  its  foundress  and  to  her  adviser. 

Mr.  Clark  cherished  a  desire  to  revisit  the  scenes  of  his 
missionary  labors  in  our  State,  but  the  pressing  demands 
of  his  charge  prevented.  He  did,  however,  make  one 
visit  to  Wisconsin.  It  was  to  dedicate  the  second  church 
edifice  erected  by  our  people  in  Jauesville,  and  now  known 
as  the  First  Church  there.  This  was  in  the  summer  of 
1853.  The  writer  then  saw  him  for  the  first  and  last 
time,  and,  with  many  others,  highly  appreciated  his  able 
ministration. 

In  July,  1854,  after  battling  with  cholera  symptoms 
for  several  days,  he  succumbed  to  that  terrible  disease, 
but  with  frequent  assurances  from  his  lips  that  all  was 
well.  Such  a  death  might  well  be  expected  to  follow 
such  a  life. 


ANNALS  OF  1837.  39 


CHAPTER  V. 

1837. 

TWO  years  ago,  "  Milwaukee  Mission  "  appeared  in  the 
Minutes  of  the  Illinois  Conference.  This  year  we 
find,  "  Milvs'aukee  District,  Salmon  Stebbins,  presiding 
elder."  It  was  entirely  in  Wisconsin.  The  pastoral 
charges  and  their  appointees  are  here  given  in  full : 

Milwaukee  Mission — J.  R.  Goodrich. 

Racine — O.  F.  Curtiss. 

Sheboygan — H.  W.  Friuk. 

Green  Bay — P.  W.  Nichols. 

Oneida  Mission — Daniel  Poe. 

Madison — To  be  supplied. 

Aztalan — S.  Pillsbury,  Jesse  Halstead. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  State — Mineral  Point,  with 
H.  W.  Reed  as  pastor ;  Helena,  with  Wm.  Simpson ;  and 
Platteville,  with  J.  W.  McMurtry  and  A.  H.  Bonney, 
were  in  the  Galena  District.  Bartholomew  Weed  was 
presiding  elder. 

Mr.  Weed  came  from  the  Philadelphia  Conference; 
was  in  charge  of  Galena  District,  which  included  several 
appointments  in  Wisconsin  for  three  years.  He  afterwards 
returned  to  his  old  Conference,  and  died  many  years  ago. 
He  was  a  man  of  commanding  presence,  great  force  of 
character,  and  good  abilities.  His  only  daughter  became 
the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Virgin,  in  Platteville,  where  she  re- 
sided till  her  death,  a  few  years  since — almost  a  life-long 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

A  new  district,  called  Indian  Mission  District,  was 
formed,  of  which  Alfred  Brunson  was  placed  in   charge. 


40  METHODISM  IN  WJSCONSIX. 

This  contained  four  Indian  missions,  one  French  mission, 
and  one  mission — Prairie  du  Chien — among  the  English- 
speaking  white  population.  Of  the  latter,  the  presiding 
elder  had  the  pastoral  oversight.  As  to  the  French  mis- 
sion, we  hear  nothing  of  it  before  or  after  this  year.  The 
Indian  missions  were  mostly  beyond  the  boundaries  of  our 
State.  Thus  marshaled,  this  heroic  band  of  Christian 
soldiers  entered  upon  their  work,  probably  with  expecta- 
tions of  increasing  victories. 

But  a  financial  crash  soon  swept  the  country.  East 
and  West,  carrying  devastation  everywhere.  For  two  or 
three  years,  cities — "  paper  cities*' — had  sprung  up  all  over 
the  land.     The  wiklest  speculation  prevailed. 

A  species  of  currency,  called  "wild-cat  money,''  had 
deluged  the  country,  and  thus  many  accounted  themselves 
rich,  not  because  they  had  silver,  or  gold,  or  houses,  or 
lands,  but  promises  to  pay  by  irresponsible  parties,  and 
fancied  corner-lots  in  cities  that  were  never  built.  The 
*' crash"  utterly  annihilated  the  supposed  value  of  all 
these  possessions,  and  left  almost  every  one  very  poor. 
This  severely  checked  immigration  and  all  healthful  enter- 
prise. Of  course,  the  young  societies  were  everywhere 
greatly  embarrassed ;  the  preachers  were  poorly  paid,  nor 
could  they  push  out  into  the  regions  beyond  as  they  had 
planned,  yet,  like  true  heroes  as  they  were,  they  fought 
bravely  in  the  circumstances,  and  won  trophies  for  the 
Master,  as  their  reports  show. 

Unfortunately  for  Milwaukee,  their  pastor  was  com- 
pelled to  resign  his  charge  about  the  middle  of  the  year, 
on  account  of  failing  health.  But  the  little  flock  was  not 
left  entirely  uncared  for.  Providence  had  brought  Jared 
Thomson,  a  local  preacher,  into  the  vicinity,  and  he  sup- 
plied them  the  rest  of  the  year. 

Racine,  now  one  of  our  best  appointments,  first  ap- 
pears in  the  list  this  year.     It  seems  to  take  the  place  of 


ANNALS  OF  1837.  41 

Root  River  Circuit  of  the  previous  year,  as  the  French 
name  of  "root"  is  rachie,  and  as  the  former  does  not  ap- 
pear as  an  appointment.  O.  F.  Curtiss  was  in  charge. 
Just  where  or  by  whom  Methodism  was  introduced  in 
Racine,  it  is  diflBcult  to  decide.  And  strangely,  the  date  of 
the  formation  of  the  first  class  there,  can  not  be  ascertained. 
At  the  Conference  of  1836,  Samuel  Pillsbury  was  ap- 
pointed to  Root  River  Circuit,  which  evidently  included 
Racine.  Indeed,  it  is  probable  that  both  indicated  the 
same  territory.  It  seems  quite  safe,  therefore,  to  assume 
that  Mr.  Pillsbury  preached  there  as  early  as  the  fall  of 
1836.  But  there  is  good  reason  to  suppose  that  he  was 
antedated  by  Wm.  See,  a  local  preacher.  He  joined  the 
Illinois  Conference  in  1825,  traveled  two  years  with  good 
success,  and  then  located.  About  1830  he  removed  to 
Chicago,  and  was  the  Government  blacksmith  in  Fort 
Dearborn.  He  was  still  a  preacher,  and  his  name  appears 
as  a  member  of  the  first  class  in  that  city.  About  1835 
he  settled  on  Root  (or  Racine)  River,  about  two  miles 
from  its  mouth,  built  a  mill,  and  afterwards  became  one 
of  the  first  class  formed  in  Racine.  As  all  accounts  of 
him  show  that  he  was  an  active  Christian,  it  is  quite  prob- 
able that  he  preached  more  or  less  there,  and  thus  pre- 
pared the  way  for  a  new  circuit.  The  last  account  we 
have  of  this  pioneer  is,  that  he  removed  to  the  vicinity  of 
Dodgeville,  was  useful  in  various  ways,  and  died  in  1859.* 


*It  is  impossible  to  decide  with  certainty  either  as  to  the 
time  when  the  first  sermon  was  preached  there,  or  by  whom 
it  w^as  preached.  From  a  paragraph  in  "Illustrated  History 
of  Methodism,"  pp.  588-9,  it  would  seem  that  Jesse  Walker, 
preached  at  Root  River,  supposed  to  be  at  or  near  what 
is  now  Racine,  as  early  as  1834.  No  mention  is  made  of 
results.  Bat  John  Clark,  who  pioneered  the  country  in  1835, 
s^ys  there  was  not  an  American  familj'  between  Chicago  and 
Milwaukee.  It  is  therefore  probable  that  Mr.  Walker  visited 
a  point  on  Root  River,  some  distance  from  Racine. 


42  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN, 

The  Dames  of  those  constituting  the  first  class  there,  so 
far  as  known,  were  Paul  Kingston  and  wife,  Wm.  See  and 
wife,  Harrison  R.  Fay  and  wife,  A.  Filer  and  wife, 
Stephen  Campbell  and  wdfe.  From  this  small  beginning 
has  grown  a  strong,  influential  Church.  It  used  to  be 
said,  "  Go  where  you  will  in  Wisconsin,  you  will  find 
some  one  who  was  converted  in  the  Methodist  Church  at 
Racine." 

From  it  have  gone  out  several  preachers,  among  whom — 
and  the  only  one  now  in  our  ranks — is  J.  L.  Hewitt,  pre- 
siding elder  on  Milwaukee  District. 

Sheboygan  was  a  new  appointment,  embracing  an  im- 
mense area  of  dense  wilderness,  with  the  exception  of  here 
and  there  a  small  settlement.  The  preacher  was  a  new 
man,  both  in  the  Conference  and  in  the  itinerancy  itself — 
H.  W.  Frink.  He  had  but  recently  come  from  the  East 
as  a  local  preacher,  and  settled  at  Green  Bay,  then  called 
Navareino,  as  already  described.  His  appointment  to  such 
a  field — a  field  in  which  there  was  not  a  religious  organi- 
zation of  any  kind,  and,  perhaps,  not  a  decidedly  religious 
person — was  surely  a  severe  test  of  his  fidelity  to  the  call 
of  duty. 

Among  his  appointments  were,  Sheboygan,  Manitowoc, 
Brothertowm,  Stockbridge,  which  latter  he  could  reach 
only  by  way  of  Green  Bay.  Surely  this  was  a  circuit  of 
"  magnificent  distances."  But  he  was  equal  to  the  demand. 
He  labored  on  for  many  years  faithfully  and  well.  Much 
of  the  time  he  w^as  in  frontier  work,  and  his  visits  carried 
sunshine  to  many  a  household.  He  was  probably  one  of 
the  best  pastors  we  ever  had  in  this  Conference.  He  is 
now  entirely  superannuated,  residing  at  Burnett  Junction, 
in  his  last  pastoral  charge,  highly  esteemed  by  all  who 
know  him. 

The  first  session  of  the  Wisconsin  Territorial  Legisla- 
ture  was  held   at   Belmont,  six   or   eight   miles    east    of 


ANNALS  OF  1837.  43 

Platteville,  commencmg  October  25,  1836  ;  and  on  the 
23d  of  November  following,  Madison  was  selected  the  cap- 
ital of  the  Territory.  It  was  very  natural,  therefore,  for 
the  raissiouary  genius  of  our  itinerancy  to  plan  for  its  spir- 
itual welfare.  Accordingly,  at  the  next  Conference  (1837), 
it  appears  in  the  list  of  appointments  "to  be  supplied." 

AzTALAN,  an  honored  name  in  our  annals,  embraced  an 
immense  territory  hitherto  unexplored,  even  by  the  almost 
ubiquitous  Methodist  itinerant.  Indeed,  Messrs.  Pillsbury 
and  Halstead  scarcely  knew  any  bounds  to  their  work. 
They  traversed  the  entire  Rock  River  Valley,  in  Wis- 
consin, and  extended  their  appointments  as  far  to  the  east 
and  south  as  Prairieville  (now  AVaukesha),  East  Troy,  Elk- 
horn,  Burlington,  and  Janesville.  Thus  they  sowed  the 
seed  of  the  kingdom  over  a  wide  field,  from  which  was 
gathered  a  good  harvest  in  following  years.  Of  this,  that 
year's  toil  was  an  earnest,  for  we  find  sixty-two  members 
at  the  close  of  the  year  where  there  were  probably  none  at 
the  beginning. 

Helena  was  a  new  pastoral  charge,  set  off  from  Min- 
eral Point  Circuit  of  the  previous  year.  Each  of  these 
places  received  a  new  man — the  former,  William  Simpson ; 
the  latter,  H.  W.  Reed,  both  of  whom  will  appear  in 
future  pages.  Helena  was  a  point  on  Wisconsin  River, 
quite  isolated,  and  so  significantly  named.  Rev.  J.  Crum- 
mer,  referring  to  the  preceding  year,  says:  "It  was  be- 
lieved that  there  was  not  a  white  family  between  us  and 
the  Selkirk  settlement  of  the  north."  He  further  says: 
"  On  preaching  night  everything  was  put  in  fine  order, 
and  the  preacher  treated  to  the  best  there  was."  The 
main  industry  was  a  shot-factory,  owned  by  a  local 
preacher,  not  a  resident  of  the  place,  who  paid  fifty  to 
seventy-five  dollars  a  year  to  sustain  preaching  there.  The 
circuit  included  Blue  Mounds  and  some  other  points. 

For  some  cause  the  preachers  on   Platteville  Circuit 


44  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

both  left  the  work  somewhat  early  in  this  year,  and  J. 
Crummer,  who  served  there  a  part  of  the  previous  year, 
but  had  passed  beyond  our  bounds,  was  called  back  to 
this  field.  It  involved  labor  enough  for  two  strong  men  ; 
but  this  indomitable  worker  managed,  by  the  aid  of  two 
or  three  local  preachers,  to  push  the  conquests  of  the 
Cross  successfully  to  the  close  of  the  year.  The  circuit 
seems  to  have  been  even  larger  than  the  previous  year. 
He  had  at  least  one  appointment  in  what  is  now  the  State 
of  Iowa,  and  also  extended  his  work  northward  to  regions 
beyond.  We  of  the  present  time  may  be  more  reconciled 
to  what  seems  a  little  hard,  by  noting  some  of  the  inci- 
dents of  those  days.     A  few  must  suffice. 

Blue  River,  now  Montfort,  was  a  mining-camp.  Mr. 
Crummer  soon  made  his  way  there,  being  the  first  preacher 
on  the  ground.  He  found  a  "  smart  sprinkle"  of  Cornish 
people.  They  assembled — mostly  men — to  hear  preaching 
for  the  first  time  in  those  "  ends  of  the  earth."  When  the 
hymn  was  announced,  they  joined  in  and  sang  with  a 
gusto  that  indicated  a  familiarity  with  that  kind  of  wor- 
ship, and  doubtless  greatly  helped  the  preacher.  He 
formed  a  class,  and  slept  sweetly  in  a  miner's  bunk.  But 
his  horse — faithful  traveling  companion — did  not  fare  as 
well.  There  being  no  stable,  he  was  tied  to  a  tree,  and 
during  the  night  a  heavy  fall  of  snow  made  his  lot  very 
uncomfortable.  It  really  was  enough  to  make  some  horses 
leave  the  itinerancy.  But  he  remained  true  to  his  master, 
as  his  master  to  the  work. 

On  one  occasion  he  was  all  one  cold  winter  day  on 
horseback,  traveling  from  this  to  another  appointment. 
Not  a  family  resided  between  the  two  points.  At  another 
time,  while  preaching  in  a  log  school-house,  he  noticed  a 
little  uneasiness,  and  presently  a  large  blacksnake  was 
drawn  out  from  between  the  logs  and  dispatched  by  one  of 
his  hearers.     Whether  this  was  a  direct  descendant  of  a 


ANNALS  OF  1837.  45 

similar  animal  that  once  infested  Eden  or  not,  the  preacher 
went  on  bruising  the  head  of  him  who  is  symbolized  by 
that  ancient  intruder. 

At  another  time  still,  night  overtook  him  as  he  reached 
an  Indian's  cabin,  and  he  was  compelled  to  ''turn  in." 
The  family  seemed  to  make  him  welcome  in  broken  En- 
glish, but  everything  indicated  filth,  if  not  something 
worse.  Supper  was  soon  ready,  and  he  was  cordially  in- 
vited to  partake.  It  consisted  mainly  of  fish,  boiled  as 
taken  from  the  water.  He  dared  not  refuse,  but  his  ap- 
petite did  not  crave  a  very  large  portion  of  it.  Certain 
domestic  animals  of  different  kinds  that  occasionally 
awaken  considerable  interest,  abounded  in  some  of  the 
huts  in  which  the  itinerant  of  those  days  was  obliged  to 
lodge.  Though  they  stuck  "  closer  than  a  brother,"  they 
really  were  enemies,  and  no  amount  of  heroism  could 
overcome  the  dread  of  their  attacks.  Not  uufrequently 
were  the  houses  so  open  that  a  driving  snow-storm  in  the 
nigbt  would  cover  the  bed  of  a  sleeper  with  a  white 
blanket  several  inches  thick. 

Mr.  Crummer  describes  several  kinds  of  corn-bread 
made  in  those  days.  One  kind  was  called  "dodgers;" 
they  were  made  of  corn-meal  and  cold  water  (possibly  a 
little  salt),  well  manipulated  into  oval  balls,  and  baked 
very  hard.  He  thinks  he  has  seen  them  so  hard  that  a 
"strong  arm  could  knock  down  a  year-old  steer  with  one 
of  them  at  a  distance  of  ten  paces."  Some  may  think 
this  is  worse  than  the  hard-tack  marked  "B.  C,"  that 
regaled  our  "  Boys  in  Blue." 

This  year  of  toil  on  Platteville  Circuit  was  quite  suc- 
cessful. Among  those  who  entered  upon  a  new  life  were 
at  least  two  who  became  itinerant  ministers.  These  were 
T.  M.  Fullerton  and  F.  T.  Mitchell.  The  circumstances 
attending  the  conversion  of  the  former  were  these  :  Mr. 
Crummer  was  on  his  way  to  an  appointment   in  "Snake 


46  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Hollow,"  a  mining  camp  that  abounded  in  vile  conduct, 
stimulated  by  tbe  fire-water  of  death ;  and  as  he  ap- 
proached, there  was  an  outcry,  "  Here  comes  the  Meth- 
odist preacher!"  At  once  there  appeared  on  the  scene  a 
drunken,  howling  mob.  Some  threw  stones,  others  rolled 
whisky-barrels  into  the  street,  and  altogether  the  uproar 
seemed  somewhat  like  that  at  Ephesus  when  the  great  god- 
dess Diana  was  in  danger  of  being  "set  at  naught."  The 
preacher's  horse,  called  by  his  owner,  "Judge,"  showed 
more  opposition  to  the  whisky-barrels,  though  empty, 
than  some  modern  judges  do  to  those  well  filled.  The 
preacher  reached  the  place  of  meeting  unscathed,  and  in 
no  wise  daunted  by  the  bacchanalian  outburst.  The  Lord 
attended  the  word,  and  from  that  hour  young  Fullerton 
commenced  to  seek  the  Savior.-!^ 

Young  Mitchell  was  converted  at  a  camp-meeting,  the 
first,  it  is  supposed,  ever  held  within  the  present  bound- 
aries of  our  State.  This  was  near  the  Big  Platte  River. 
So  successful  was  it  that  the  brethren  fitted  up  a  ground 
for  another  near  Platteville,  and  a  meeting  was  held  there 
the  same  fall,  attended  by  several  preachers  on  their  return 
from  the  Annual  Conference.  This  will  be  more  fully 
noticed  in  the  annals  of  next  year. 

The  total  membership,  as  reported  at  the  next  Con- 
ference, was  564 — an  increase  of  eighty-six. 


*  In  an  obituary  notice  of  this  excellent  minister,  in  the 
Northwestern  Christian  Advocate  of  January  22,  1890,  he  is  said 
to  have  been  converted  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  1840.  This  is  not  in  conflict  with  the  former  state- 
ment. Intelligent  Methodists  have  never  considered  commenc- 
ing to  seek  the  Savior  as  all  that  is  meant  by  Scriptural  conver- 
sion. Mr.  Fullerton  probably  entered  upon  a  praying  life  at 
the  former  date,  and  experienced  the  infusion  of  spiritual  life 
at  the  latter. 


ANNALS  OF  1S3S-D.  47 


CHAPTER  VI. 
1838-9. 

THE  Minutes  this  year  present  but  few  important 
changes.  The  districts  are  the  same,  and  manned  as 
last  year. 

Sheboygan  and  Aztalan  disappear.  The  territory  in- 
dicated by  the  former  was  probably  abandoned  on  account 
of  the  great  financial  distress  already  described.  That  in- 
cluded in  the  latter  took  the  name  of  Honey  Creek.  This 
place  was  a  long  distance  from  Aztalan.  But,  as  the 
reader  will  remember,  those  zealous  pioneers,  Pillsbury  and 
Halstead,  covered  nearly  all  the  country  with  "labors 
abundant,"  from  Aztalan  to  the  southern  boundary  of 
Wisconsin.  It  is  not  strange,  therefore,  that  a  more  eli- 
gible point  for  the  head  of  the  circuit  was  developed.  Mr. 
Pillsbury  was  continued  in  charge  of  the  work,  with  J.  F. 
Flanders  as  colleague. 

Fort  Winnebago  was  connected  with  Madison  as  a 
mission,  and  John  Hodges  was  pastor. 

Deansbury  and  Fond  du  Lac  also  appear  as  a  mission 
"to  be  supplied." 

W.  Wigley  was  appointed  to  Milwaukee ;  S.  P.  Keyes 
to  Green  Bay ;  H.  W.  Reed  to  Oneida ;  Thomas  P.  Lopas 
to  Mineral  Point;  John  Crummer  to  Helena;  and  Isaac 
J.  Stewart  to  Platte ville.  The  second  camp-meeting  held 
on  Platteville  Circuit,  alluded  to  on  a  previous  page,  was 
a  great  success.  The  Church  in  the  growing  village  was 
very  much  improved  in  numbers  and  spiritual  power. 
Among  the  interesting  features  of  it  was  the  presence  of 


48  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Jason  Lee,  missionary  in  Oregon,  accompanied  by  two 
Flat  Head  Indians  from  that  far-off  land. 

Though  this  incident  did  not  contribute  largely  to  the 
history  of  Methodism  in  Wisconsin,  such  was  the  influence 
of  the  Oregon  Mission  upon  our  Church  at  large,  upon 
Christianity  in  general,  and  upon  the  physical  structure 
of  our  country,  that  a  brief  account  of  its  origin  will  be 
acceptable  at  this  point. ' 

The  Divine  hand  was  as  conspicuous  in  this  as  in  open- 
ing the  way  to  send  Christian  missionaries  to  the  Sand- 
wich Islands  fifteen  years  before.  Comparatively  little 
was  known  of  oar  great  country  west  of  the  Rocky  Mount- 
ains until  within  the  last  sixty  or  seventy  years.  McKen- 
zie,  sent  out  by  the  British  Government,  and  subsequently 
Lewis  and  Clarke,  under  the  authority  of  the  United 
States,  demonstrated  the  possibility  of  a  transit  over  land 
to  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  awakened  considerable  interest  in 
that  Great  Northwest.  And  though  their  expeditions  were 
for  political  purposes,  the  Ruler  of  the  world  was  directing 
results. 

It  seems  that  two  of  the  Flat  Heads  were  taken  back 
by  McKenzie  to  Montreal,  and  educated  slightly  in  a 
Roman  Catholic  school.  They  returned  to  their  native 
land,  and  tried  as  best  they  could  to  instruct  their  breth- 
ren in  the  Christian  religion.  But  as  their  own  light  was 
dim,  and  obscured  by  the  superstitions  of  Romanism,  their 
efforts  seemed  to  produce  no  special  effect  except  to  awaken 
a  desire  to  know  more  about  it  than  these  youth  could 
tell  them. 

This  desire  was  greatly  increased  by  what  seems  an 
accidental  circumstance.  By  some  means  a  white  man — 
by  name  unknown  to  history — made  his  way  into  their 
country.  After  attending  some  of  their  religious  festivals, 
and  observing  their  devotions,  mixed  with  ridiculous  folly, 
he  ventured  to  tell  some  of  tliem  that  they  were  wrong  in 


ANJ^ALS  OF  1S3S-9.  49 

their  views  of  the  Great  Spirit ;  that  he  did  not  require 
such  worship.  They  received  this  kindly.  Then  he  pro- 
ceeded to  tell  them  further  that  there  was  a  people  toward 
the  '*  rising  sun"  that  knew  all  about  the  true  God,  and 
how  to  worship  him;  and  that  he  had  given  them  a 
Book  from  which  they  had  learned  all  this.  They  became 
so  interested  that  they  convened  a  council,  deliberated  on 
the  subject,  and  decided  to  send  a  deputation  of  four  to 
obtain  the  '^  Book  that  told  of  the  white  man's  God." 

They  entered  upon  their  perilous  journey  of  about  three 
thousand  miles  through  the  dismal  dells  and  over  the 
snow-capped  peaks  of  the  Rockies,  and  reached  St.  Louis 
in  the  latter  part  of  1832  or  the  beginning  of  1833. 
Providentially,  General  Clarke,  who,  in  1805,  accompanied 
Lewis  in  a  similar  dreary  journey,  was  the  Indian  agent 
there.  They  were  brought  to  him.  He  was  interested 
for  them,  and  gave  them  such  verbal  instruction  as  he 
could  touching  the  object  of  their  inquiry,  but  did  not 
seem  to  meet  their  desires.  Unfortunately  they  soon 
came  under  the  influence  of  the  Roman  Catholics,  who 
then  largely  dominated  the  city.  They  renewed  their  re- 
quest for  the  "Book,"  but  instead,  they  tried  to  satisfy 
them  with  their  mummery.  All  their  efforts  failed  for  the 
time.  Two  of  their  number  died  there;  the  others  re- 
turned without  the  "Book,"  and  knowing  little  more  of 
the  white  man's  God  than  when  they  came. 

Wm.  Barrows,  a  writer  in  the  Oregon,  a  paper  pub- 
lished in  that  State,  referring  to  this  wonderful  event,  calls 
it  a  failure.  We  will  see.  There  was  a  ceremonial  leave- 
taking,  at  which  one  of  the  survivors  made  a  farewell  ad- 
dress, as  follows : 

"  I  came  to  you  over  a  trail  of  many  moons  from  the 
setting  sun.  You  were  the  friend  of  my  fathers,  who 
have  all  gone  the  long  way.  I  came  with  one  eye  partly 
opened  for  more  li^ht  for  my  people,  who  sit  in  darkness. 

4 


50  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN.  . 

I  go  back  with  both  eyes  closed.  How  can  I  go  back  blind 
to  iny  blind  people?  I  made  my  way  to  you  with  strong 
arms,  through  many  enemies  and  strange  lands,  that 
I  might  carry  back  much  to  them.  I  go  back  with  both 
arms  broken  and  empty.  The  two  fathers  who  came  with 
us,  the  braves  of  many  winters  and  wars,  we  leave  asleep 
here  by  your  great  waters  and  wigwam.  They  were  tired 
in  many  moons,  and  their  moccasins  wore  out.  My  people 
sent  me  to  get  the  white  man's  Book  of  heaven.  You 
took  me  where  you  allow  your  women  to  dance,  as  w^e 
do  not  ours,  and  the  Book  was  not  there.  You  showed 
me  the  images  of  good  spirits,  and  pictures  of  the  good 
land  beyond,  but  the  Book  was  not  among  them  to  tell  us 
the  way.  I  am  going  back  the  long  sad  trail  to  my  peo- 
ple of  the  dark  land.  When  I  tell  my  poor,  blind  people, 
after  one  more  snow,  in  the  big  council,  that  I  did  not 
bring  the  Book,  no  word  will  be  spoken  by  our  old  men  or 
by  our  young  braves.  One  by  one  they  will  rise  up  and 
go  out  in  silence.  My  people  will  be  in  darkness,  and 
they  will  go  on  the  long  path  to  the  other  hunting-grounds. 
No  white  man  will  go  with  them,  and  no  white  man's 
Book  to  make  the  way  plain." 

Though  this  speech,  surpassed  by  few  in  any  age  or 
land  in  all  that  constitutes  true  eloquence,  did  not  bring 
immediate  relief  to  these  eager  inquirers  after  truth,  their 
mission  was  not  a  "  failure,"  as  Mr.  Barrows  supposes. 
The  account  of  it  soon  got  into  the  papers.  Dr.  Wilber 
Fisk,  then  in  his  prime,  made  a  stirring  appeal  through 
the  Christian  Advocate.  The  heart  of  the  Church  pulsated 
with  sympathy.  This  Macedonian  cry  rung  in  ears 
that  had  been  dull  of  hearing.  It  echoed  and  re-echoed 
all  through  the  land.  The  mission  of  Cox  to  Africa,  and 
that  of  Clark  to  Green  Bay,  had  increased  the  missionary 
spirit  in  our  Church  ;  but  this  seemed  to  intensify  it  more 
than  any  thing  before. 


ANNALS  OF  1S3S-9.  51 

Soou  two  youDg  men,  Jason  and  Daniel  Lee — uncle 
and  nephew — offered  themselves  as  missionaries  to  that 
people.  They  were  accepted ;  and,  after  spending  some 
time  in  still  further  arousing  the  Church  to  the  work  of 
evangelizing  the  world,  they  started,  and  about  the  1st  of 
May,  1834,  they  left  the  border  of  civilization  on  horse- 
back, and  reached  Oregon  in  September  following. 

In  the  summer  of  1838,  Mr.  Jason  Lee  returned  for  a 
short  time  to  the  East,  bringing  with  him  three  young 
Flat  Heads,  traveled  quite  extensively  through  the  country, 
and  thus  gave  another  impetus  to  the  missionary  cause. 
The  writer  well  remembers  the  interest  awakened  in  Cen- 
tral New  York,  where  he  heard  him  ;  and  so  it  probably 
was  everywhere.  Even  in  this  then  new  country,  and 
though  largely  missionary  ground,  his  visits  and  the  pres- 
ence of  his  Indian  converts,  who  spoke  broken  English, 
but  could  tell  something  of  what  the  "Book"  and  the 
religion  it  taught  had  done  for  them,  produced  a  great 
sensation,  and  kindled  anew  the  missionary  flame,  especially 
at  this  camp-meeting. 

The  presence  of  these  and  other  missionaries  in  Oregon, 
led  there  by  this  wonderful  providence,  unquestionably 
saved  all  the  territory  to  the  United  States  included  in  the 
States  of  Washington,  Oregon,  and  about  one-half  of  Cal- 
ifornia. The  Hudson  Bay  Company  had  claimed  it  for 
Great  Britain,  and  that  claim  was  about  to  be  ratified  by 
the  authorities  at  Washington,  when  a  missionary,  who 
made  his  way  by  almost  superhuman  effort  through  the 
unbroken  forest,  reached  the  National  Capital.  The  in- 
formation he  imparted  saved  that  vast  and  valuable  region 
to  our  country.  The  name  of  this  hero  was  Whitman,  a 
medical  missionary.  (For  further  information  see  ''Build- 
ing the  Nation,"  published  by  Harper  Brothers,  pages 
371-386.) 

During  the  winter  of  1838-9   a  charter   was   obtained 


52  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

for  an  academic  institution  in  Racine ;  and  soon  after, 
during  the  same  session  of  the  Legislature,  another  was 
secured  for  one  at  Phitteville,  through  the  efforts  of  Major 
Rountree,  a  member  from  that  place.  A  school  was 
opened  there  at  once,  and  continued  as  an  academy  till  it 
was  elevated  to  the  rank  of  a  State  normal  school.  Two 
years  elapsed  before  the  one  at  Kacine  was  commenced. 
Of  its  career  the  writer  has  no  knowledge. 

Mr.  Wigley  thought  it  best  to  visit  Milwaukee  before 
moving  his  family.  He  found  the  brethren  so  disheartened 
and  embarrassed  by  the  financial  pressure,  that  they  did 
not  think  they  could  pay  his  moving  expenses.  This  in- 
terview closed  their  relations,  and  the  place  was  supplied, 
as  a  part  of  the  preceding  year  had  been,  by  Jared  Thomp- 
son. This  was  very  disastrous  to  Milwaukee;  not  because 
Mr.  Thompson  was  not  a  faithful,  good  man — he  was,  in- 
deed, and  a  man  of  good  natural  ability — but  he  resided 
nearly  ten  miles  away,  was  obliged  to  spend  most  of  his 
time  in  hard  manual  labor,  and  could  not  look  after  the 
pressing  interests  of  the  Church.  Little  or  no  pastoral 
work  Avas  done;  sometimes  funerals  were  attended  by  lay- 
men, and  even  the  Sabbath  services  suffered  greatly.  One 
who  was  on  the  ground  says  that  "  the  appointments 
were  sometimes  filled  by  another  local  preacher,  sometimes 
by  exhorters;  and  where  no  one  came  to  officiate.  Brother 
Wm.  A.  Kellogg  used  to  pray  with  the  congregation,  sing, 
and  then  dismiss  them." 

In  these  circumstances  it  is  not  strange  that  the  young 
society  diminished  to  thirty-five  during  the  year.  Indeed, 
this  seems  not  to  have  been  a  very  successful  year  gen- 
erally, as  most  of  the  charges  reported  a  decrease.  The 
unparalleled  financial  distress  that  had  overwhelmed  the 
country  still  embarrassed  the  work.  Racine,  Honey  Creek, 
Helena,  and  Platteville,  each  had  an  increase,  so  that  there 
was  an  aggregate  gain  of  eighty-six. 


ANNALS  OF  1S38-9.  53 

The  first  record  of  a  Quarterly  Conference  at  Oneida 
Mission,  that  has  been  preserved,  appears  this  year.  The 
body  convened  December  29,  1838,  and  consisted  of  the 
presiding  elder,  the  missionary,  three  local  preachers,  and 
eight  other  official  members,  and  the  business  seems  to  have 
been  done  very  correctly.  There  is  also  a  minute  inven- 
tory of  property  belonging  to  the  mission,  some  articles 
being  appraised  at  twelve  and  a-half  cents. 

1839. 

The  Conference  Minutes  for  1839  show  fourteen  pas- 
toral charges,  in  place  of  eleven  of  the  previous  year, 
which,  though  not  a  large  increase,  was  an  indication  of 
fair  progress,  considering  the  condition  of  the  country. 

Julius  Field  was  in  charge  of  ^Milwaukee  District, 
"and  the  station  was  supplied  by  Rev,  David  Brayton,  a  su- 
perannuated member  of  the  Troy  Conference.  During  the 
winter  of  1839-40  there  was  an  effort  made  to  erect  a 
church."  A  plan  was  formed  for  one  sixty  by  forty  feet. 
A  very  eligible  site  was  donated  by  Hon.  Morgan  L. 
Martin,  on  Main  Street  (now  Broadway),  between  Oneida 
and  Biddle  Streets,  and  some  preparations  w^ere  made  for 
building.  But  a  few  began  to  talk  as  some  did  in  the 
days  of  Haggai :  ''The  time  is  not  come,  the  time  that 
the  Lord's  house  should  be  built."  This  unwise  counsel 
prevailed,  so  that  little  was  done  that  year  except  to  cut 
down  the  plan  to  fifty  by  thirty-five  feet — a  step  backward, 
against  the  strong  protest  of  the  presiding  elder  and  Leverett 
S.  Kellogg,  a  prominent  layman,  of  whom  more  will 
appear. 

At  the  following  Conference  eighty-nine  members  were 
reported — an  increase  of  fifty-four. 

Southport,  now  and  for  many  years  called  Kenosha, 
makes  its  first  appearance  in  the  Minutes,  not  as  an  inde- 
pendent appointment,  but  as  an  adjunct  to  Racine,  with 


54  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Salmon  Stebbins  as  pastor.  But  this  was  not  the  begin- 
ning of  its  religious  history. 

Late  in  May,  or  early  in  June,  1835,  Jonathan  Pierce 
came,  with  his  family,  in  the  "  first  wagon  that  ever  rolled 
through  the  Indian  village"  near  by,  and  settled  on  the 
present  site  of  Kenosha,  then  called  Pike  River.  He  was 
a  devoted  Christian  and  Methodist.  He  was  the  only 
white  man  in  that  vicinity,  but  others  soon  came.  So  far 
as  appears,  no  congenial  spirit  came  to  the  place  until  the 
second  day  of  August  following,  when  Austin  Kellogg, 
with  his  wife  and  five  children,  landed  from  a  schooner, 
and  were  scattered  along  the  Pike  River  beach.  It  was 
Sabbath  afternoon.  As  his  religion  was  the  kind  that 
"  bears  transportation,"  he  began  at  once  to  look  around 
for  a  religious  meeting.  He  soon  found  Mr.  Pierce,  and 
they  arranged  for  a  prayer-meeting  the  next  Sabbath.  On 
that  day,  August  9,  1835,  they  held  the  first  prayer-meet- 
ing in  the  place.  They  must  have  been  agreeably  sur- 
prised to  find  twenty-eight  persons  in  attendance — nearly 
every  white  settler — and  more  so  to  see  that  twenty-one 
took  some  part  in  the  services.  They  also  then  and  there 
formed  a  Sabbath-school.  They  thus  showed  that  they 
were  there  for  a  higher  purpose  than  worldly  speculation. 

Though  religious  meetings  of  some  sort  were  held 
every  Sabbath,  no  class  was  formed  till  1837.  During  the 
interim  they  rarely  had  preaching.  Rev.  Mark  Robinson, 
so  far  as  appears  (the  preacher  on  Milwaukee  Circuit  in 
1835)  preached  the  first  sermon  there.  His  successor  also. 
Rev.  William  Crissey,  it  seems,  gave  the  place  a  little 
ministerial  labor. 

Some  time  in  the  year  1837  the  Pike  River  class  was 
formed,  consisting  of  ten  persons,  viz. :  Rev.  R.  M.  Demming, 
Austin  Kellogg,  Armenia  Kellogg,  Jonathan  Pierce,  Charles 
Durkee,  Mrs.  Charles  Durkee,  Mrs.  Harvey  Durkee,  John 
W.  Dana,  Martha  E.  Dana,  and  Susan  Dana.    The  class  was 


ANNALS  OF  1839.  55 

formed  by  Mr.  Demraing,  then  a  local  preacher.  He 
had  been  for  a  time  connected  with  some  Eastern  Confer- 
ence. In  his  new  home  for  many  years  he  rendered  val- 
uable service  to  the  Church.  Austin  Kellogg  was  the 
leader.  He  belonged  to  a  large  family  whose  name  is  in- 
timately and  honorably  connected  with  the  early  history 
of  Methodism  in  Wisconsin.  Charles  Durkee  was  after- 
wards a  United  States  senator  from  our  State  for  six  years. 

After  the  Conference  of  1837,  the  place  (its  name 
having  been  changed  to  Southport)  formed  a  part  of 
Racine  Circuit,  though  its  name  did  not  appear  in  the 
Minutes  till  two  years  later.  The  first  quarterly  meeting 
held  in  Southport  commenced  November  4,  1837,  S.  Steb- 
bins,  presiding  elder,  and  O.  F.  Curtiss,  preacher  in 
charge. 

During  the  ensuing  winter,  a  very  extensive  revival  of 
religion  swept  the  place,  ''resulting  in  the  conversion  of 
nearly  the  entire  community."  The  fruits  of  it  were  seen 
in  various  ways.  It  gave  the  place  a  healthy  moral 
tone,  as  nothiug  else  could,  and  thus  aided  it  in  all  proper 
business  matters. 

Because  the  Christian  religion  imposes  restraints  to  the 
greed  and  dishonest  speculations  of  men,  they  often  think 
it  unfriendly  to  their  worldly  interests.  But  reoRy^  in  the 
highest  and  best  sense,  "  godliness  has  promise  of  the  life 
that  now  is."     So  it  proved  in  this  case. 

The  young  society,  thus  re-enforced,  began  to  make 
preparaton  for  erecting  "  a  house  for  the  Lord,"  and  suc- 
ceeded, as  we  shall  see  in  due  time. 

Green  Bay  was  under  the  pastoral  care  of  A. 
Chenoeth. 

Oneida  was  left  to  be  supplied ;  but  J.  Halstead,  who 
was  appointed  to  Deansburg  (an  early  name  for  Brother- 
town),  was  removed  by  the  presiding  elder  to  Oneida.  No 
Church  organization  seems  to  have  been  eflTected  in  Deans- 


56  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

burg  as  yet,  though  there  had  been  occasional  preaching 
in  the  place  for  some  time.  The  Stockbridge  Indians  were 
in  a  transition  state  from  a  tribal  government  to  American 
citizenship.  To  us,  at  this  distance,  that  seems  a  very  im- 
portant period  in  their  history,  and  one  that  should  have 
been  seized  with  great  avidity  to  bring  them  under  gospel 
influences. 

During  this  year  the  church  at  Oneida  was  dedicated. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  dedicatory  proceedings,  so 
far  as  their  legal  bearings  are  concerned,  as  found  in  the 
Records  of  the  Mission : 

''In  the  name  and  in  behalf  of  our  people,  we  here 
present  the  laud  laid  off'  for  the  building  of  this  house, 
and  all  that  we  have  done  to  complete  the  same  to  God, 
to  be  used  as  a  holy  place  for  religious  worship,  according 
to  the  order  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  for  the 
benefit  of  this  Nation. 

,,ri.       11  [Jacob  Cornelius, 

"Signed  by  |  John  Cornelius. 

f  Thomas  Lodrick,  -\-  His  mark. 
I  John  Cooper,  -\-  His  mark. 
"Chiefs,  -{  Isaac  Johnson,  -f  His  mark. 
I  Homer  Smith,  -j-  His  mark. 
1^  Moses  Cornetius,  -j-  His  mark.     ' 

"  Oneida  West,  January  4  1840. 

'*  In  the  name  and  in  behalf  of  the  Missionary  Society, 
I  here  present  this  house  as  a  holy  place  for  religious  wor- 
ship, according  to  the  order  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  for  the  benefit  of  this  Nation. 

' '  Signed  by  Julius  Field, 

"  Superintendent  of  Missions. 
"  Oneida  West,  January  4,  1840." 

Madison  was  again  left  to  be  supplied. 

Fort   Winnebago,  a   military    post  between   Fox   and 


ANNALS  OF  1839.  57 

Wisconsin  Rivers  (near  Portage  City),  was  in  charge  of 
S.  P.  Keyes. 

Apparently,  but  little  was  accomplished  in  either  place, 
as  from  the  former  only  three  members  were  reported  ; 
from  the  latter,  none.  Still,  necessary  preparations  may 
have  been  made  for  future  success.  • 

The  pastoral  work,  known  as  Honey  Creek,  the  pre- 
ceding year,  appears  now  as  Walworth,  embracing,  it 
seems,  all  the  settlements  in  that  county,  and  was  in  care 
of  J.  McKeau. 

Watertown  appears  this  year  in  the  list  of  appoint- 
ments, but  it  does  not  indicate  entirely  new  ground.  It 
took  in  the  northern  part  of  what  was  Aztalan  Circuit  of 
1837  (called  in  1838  Honey  Creek),  and  left  all  the 
country,  east  and  southeast,  as  far  as  Lake  Michigan,  to 
be  explored.  H.  W.  Frink  was  appointed  to  pioneer  this 
region  ;  and  well  did  he  perform  his  work.  Amid  great 
difficulties,  he  penetrated  the  wilderness  to  Menominee, 
Wauwatosa,  and  other  points  in  that  region,  forming 
classes  in  various  places,  as  will  be  noted  in  due  time. 
Thus,  at  the  close  of  the  year,  his  circuit  extended  from 
the  boundaries  of  Madison  and  Fort  Winnebago  charges' 
to  the  lake,  as  far  south  as  Waukesha  and  Milwaukee, 
embracing  everything  in  its  sweep  but  the  latter  place. 

The  appointments  in  the  western  part  of  the  State 
were  still  embraced  in  Galena  District,  with  B.  Weed, 
presiding  elder.     They  were  as  follows: 

Prairie  du  Chien — Wm.  Simpson. 

Platteville—H.  W.  Reed  and  J.  G.  Whitford. 

Mineral  Point — J.  Hodges. 

Helena — John  Crummer. 

By  some  subsequent  arrangement  the  two  places  last 
named  were  united  in  one  circuit,  with  John  Crummer  in 
charge. 

The  returns  of  this  year  show  far  greater  gains  in  mem- 


58  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

bers  in  the  mineral  region  than  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State.  Perhaps  this  is  due  largely  to  the  circumstance 
that  the  hard  times  affected  it  less.  Speculation  seems 
not  to  have  run  as  wild;  and,  then,  their  mineral  basis  was 
greatly  in  their  favor. 

The  follo*ving  incident  will  give  the  reader  another 
view  of  the  way  our  early  itinerants  follow^ed  up  the  tide 
of  immigration  :  Though  Helena  Circuit  embraced  all  the 
region  east  and  west  between  Mineral  Point  and  Madison, 
and  north  and  south  between  the  Pecatonica  and  Wiscon- 
sin Rivers,  yet  the  preacher,  J.  Crummer,  whose  push  and 
heroism  have  already  been  indicated,  on  hearing  of  some 
settlers  on  Sauk  Prairie,  north  of  Wisconsin  River,  started 
off*  in  the  usual  style  of  a  Methodist  preacher  in  those 
days,  on  a  trip  of  thirty  miles  or  more,  with  only  one 
house  between,  to  preach  to  them  the  word  of  life.  On 
reaching  that  house,  he  was  told  that  it  was  impossible  to 
get  across  the  river,  as  the  ferry-boat  was  on  the  other 
side,  and  he  could  not  make  the  people  there  hear  him  call. 
To  confirm  this,  it  was  added  that  "Rev.  Mr.  Quaw  went 
there  a  day  or  two  before,  and  hallooed  till  hoarse,  and 
then  turned  away  to  Madison."  But  the  intrepid  Crum- 
mer replied:  "We  Methodists  can  make  more  noise  than 
the  Presbyterians."  The  man,  seeing  his  determination, 
replied:  "I  can  suggest  a  plan  that  will  get  you  over. 
There  is  a  cabin  at  such  a  point;  into  this  put  your 
horse.  At  another  point  you  will  find  a  scythe  hidden 
away  ;  with  this  cut  grass  for  your  horse.  Now,  at  another 
point  you  will  find  a  canoe  under  the  bank."  Then  look- 
ing doubtfully  at  the  preacher,  he  added:  "There  is  no 
paddle — you  will  have  to  carry  one." 

No  time  can  be  safely  lost.  Twenty  miles  without  a 
vestige  of  civilization,  and  a  wide,  rapid  stream  lie  between 
him  and  the  place  of  his  destination.  Almost  instantly 
he  mounts  his  faithful  "Judge,"  with  a  paddle  fastened 


ANXALS  OF  1830.  59 

to  his  saddle-bow,  and  speeds  for  the  river.  He  finds 
everything  as  described,  plus  the  kind  of  mosquitoes  of 
which  '*a  great  many  weigh  a  pound,"  and  reached  the 
prairie  before  night.  The  next  day  the  whole  settlement 
came  to  hear  the  word  of  the  Lord  preached.  At  this 
service  a  class  was  organized,  but  of  how  many  composed 
the  writer  is  not  informed.  This  was  evidently  the  begin- 
ning of  our  work  on  Sauk  Prairie. 

On  the  Platteville  work  there  was  a  very  extensive  re- 
vival. This  was  especially  true  of  the  west  end  of  the 
circuit,  then  called  Snake  Hollow,  on  account  of  the  im- 
mense number  of  congealed  rattlesnakes  taken  from  a  min- 
eral cave ;  but  afterwards  named  Potosi,  after  a  South 
American  city,  because  of  the  abundance  of  mineral  de- 
posits there. 

Numbers  reported,  965. 

The  total  gain  for  the  year  in  the  thirteen  appoint- 
ments was  243 — about  thirty-three  and  a   third  per  cent. 


60  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
I 840- I. 

AT  the  eighth  delegated  General  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  May,  1840,  the 
Illinois  Conference  was  divided,  thus  forming  a  new  Con- 
ference, called  Rock  River,  which  included  the  northern 
portion  of  the  State  of  Illinois  and  all  the  Territory  of 
Wisconsin,  together  with  the  Indian  missions  of  the  Upper 
Mississippi,  wherever  located.  Henceforth,  therefore,  for 
eight  years,  the  reader  will  understand  that  Wisconsin 
Methodism  was  under  the  tutelage  of  Rock  River  Confer- 
ence. At  the  close  of  the  list  of  appointments  of  Illinois 
Conference  for  1839  we  find  the  following: 

*'  Question:  Wlien  and  where  shall  our  next  Conference 
be  heldf  lUlinois  Conference  at  ^Springfield,  Sangamon 
County,  Illinois ;  Wisconsin  Conference  at  Pine  Creek, 
Ogle  County,  Illinois;  the  times  to  be  published  in  the 
Advocate,  after  General  Conference." 

From  this  it  is  evident  that  the  first  plan  was  to  name 
the  new  Conference  after  our  Territory,  but  finally  it  was 
called  "  Rock  River."  At  the  first  session  of  that  Confer- 
ence, held  in  August  following,  all  the  appointments  in 
Wisconsin  were  included  in  Platte ville  and  Milwaukee  Dis- 
tricts— the  former  in  charge  of  H.  W.  Reed,  the  latter  of 
Julius  Field.  There  were  seventeen  pastoral  charges,  call- 
ing for  the  labor  of  twenty-two  ministers.  If  we  take  into 
account  the  Indian  missions  above  mentioned,  nine  more 
men  will  be  added  to  the  working  force. 


ANNALS  OF  I84O-I.  61 

Platteville  District  was  one  of  "magnificent  distances," 
extending  from  near  the  southwest  corner  of  the  Territory 
to  Green  Bay.  To  pass  from  one  of  these  points  to  the 
other  involved  nearly  two  hundred  miles  of  travel.  And 
be  it  remembered  there  were  no  railroads  or  steamboats  to 
make  the  trip  expeditious  and  comfortable.  Even  human 
habitations  were  very  rare,  and  the  few  that  existed  could 
give  but  poor  accommodation  to  the  traveler.  It  is  not 
mere  poetry,  however,  to  say  that  the  "spaces  were  beau- 
tiful." They  were  literally  so  when,  from  May  to  October, 
an  endless  variety  of  prairie-flowers  greeted  the  eye  in  all 
directions. 

Platteville  was  left  "to  be  supplied."  This  was  not 
on  account  of  its  feeblenesss,  for  it  had  265  members — • 
the  largest  number  reported  from  any  circuit  in  the  Terri- 
tory. The  supply  was  Rufus  Spaulding,  a  returned  mis- 
sionary from  Africa. 

Lancaster,  the  seat  of  Grant  County,  first  appears  this 
year  in  the  Minutes.  It  was  probably  included  the  pre- 
ceding year  in  Platteville  Circuit;  but  now,  in  connec- 
tion with  Prairie  du  Chien,  seems  to  embrace  all  the 
northern  part  of  the  county,  and  everything  north  of  Wis- 
consin River  except  the  Indian  missions.  To  this  circuit 
two  preachers  were  appointed — William  Simpson  and 
A.  M.  Early.  At  the  close  of  the  year  they  reported 
175  members. 

With  Mineral  Point  was  connected  this  year  Wyota, 
thus  forming  a  large  circuit,  in  charge  of  J.  G.  Whitford , 
with  "one  to  be  supplied."  It  was  a  year  of  general 
prosperity.  From  the  two  places  176  members  were 
returned. 

Monroe,  the  seat  of  Green  County,  takes  a  permanent 
place  among  the  appointments  of  this  year,  with  James  Ash, 
just  received  on  trial  in  the  Conference,  as  its  pastor.  It 
seems  to  have  been  formed  entirely  from  new  territory ; 


62  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

and,  if  so,  the  success  of  the  year  was  remarkable,  as  183 
members  were  reported  at  the  next  Conference. 

Very  little  fruit  appears  as  yet  from  the  labor  at  Mad- 
ison. The  year  began  with  three  members,  and  closed 
with  eleven.  This  is  utterly  unaccountable.  It  was  the 
capital  of  the  Territory,  and  had  been  in  the  Minutes  for 
the  three  previous  years.  Two  of  those  years  it  was  left 
to  be  supplied.  But  this  ought  not  to  mean,  left  to  take 
care  of  itself.  The  other  year  of  the  three  it  was  con- 
nected with  Fort  Winnebago,  more  than  thirty  miles  dis- 
tant. This  was  a  military  post,  and  whatever  good  was 
accomplished  by  our  labors  there,  the  Great  Day  must 
reveal,  as  no  report  from  there  is  to  be  found.  The  fort 
occupied  a  part  of  the  present  site  of  Portage  City,  and 
was  constructed  by  the  arch-traitor,  Jeff  Davis,  soon  after 
his  -graduation  from  West  Point,  where  he  was  educated 
by  the  Nation  he  afterwards  stabbed  and  tried  to  destroy. 

Fond  du  Lac,  which  stood  connected  with  Deansburg 
(Brothertown)  two  years  before,  again  comes  to  view,  and 
is  apparently  the  head-quarters  of  a  circuit  which  includes 
the  last-named  place,  that  noble  man,  Jesse  Halstead,  be- 
ing pastor.  In  the  winter  following,  the  Deansburg  por- 
tion of  the  work  was  visited  with  a  great  outpouring  of 
the  Spirit.  Many  were  converted,  a  Church  formed,  and 
"a  large  number  received  on  probation."  He  was  assisted 
by  a  local  preacher  by  the  name  of  Smith,  father  of  Rev. 
Chas.  Smith,  a  superannuate  of  Wisconsin  Conference. 
They  continued,  like  "true  yoke-fellows,"  "  in  labors  abun- 
dant" through  that  year  and  the  next. 

H.  R.  Col  man,  just  transferred  from  the  Troy  Confer- 
ence, in  the  State  of  New  York,  was  appointed  to  Oneida. 

Green  Bay  was  left  without  a  preacher,  at  their  own 
request — a  very  unwise  thing,  probably.  When  the  body 
can  remain  vigorous  without  food,  a  Church  can  without 
the  ordinances  of  religion.      The  presiding  elder  put  Mr. 


ANNALS  OF  mO-1.  68 

Col  man  in  charge  of  the  Church  at  Green  Bay  till  he 
could  procure  a  supply.  He  preached  there,  once  in  three 
weeks,  till  about  the  1st  of  January,  1841,  when  the  serv- 
ices of  Boyd  Phelps,  formerly  of  Indiana  Conference, 
were  secured  for  the  rest  of  the  year.  Notwithstanding 
the  people  w^ere  so  faint-hearted  at  the  beginning,  the  year 
closed  with  an  increase  of  more  than  forty  per  cent  in  the 
membership. 

The  incumbent  of  Milwaukee  District  has  already  been 
mentioned.  John  Crumraer,  who  had  been  laboring  for  two 
years  in  the  mineral  region,  was  a^Dpointed  to  the  station. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  the  society  were  compelled  to  leave 
the  building  they  had  occupied  for  some  time  as  a  place, 
of  worship,  and,  indeed  were  subjected  to  several  removals 
w^ithin  a  few  months.  "  Notwithstanding  these  inconven- 
iencies,  the  congregations  were  large  and  the  membership 
punctual  and  energetic."  They  evidently  disliked  that 
kind  of  itinerancy ;  so  they  set  about  the  work  of  finish- 
ing the  church  edifice.  The  Building  Committee,  consist- 
ing of  Leverett  S.  Kellogg,  Geo.  F.  Austin,  and  Jacob 
L.  Bean,  pushed  it  with  vigor,  and  on  the  28th  of  May, 
1841,  it  was  dedicated  as  a  place  of  sacred  worship  by 
Presiding  Elder  Field  and  the  pastor. 

Though  there  was  a  little  relief  from  the  financial  press- 
ure, the  preachers,  as  well  as  the  people,  were  compelled 
to  live  on  short  allowances.  Take  one  example  :  Mr. 
Crummer  was  a  single  man,  and,  though  he  had  a  per- 
manent place  for  his  study  and  lodging,  he  boarded  among 
the  members — now  with  one  family  awhile,  and  then  with 
another.  He  had  some  appointments  out  of  town,  and, 
of  course,  would  be  likely  to  spend  the  night  with  some 
one  in  the  neighborhood  after  an  evening  service.  Break- 
fasting one  morning  with  a  family  in  one  of  those  places, 
he,  with  them,  made  a  meal  of  bread,  onions,  and  salt. 
After  family  devotions,  which  he  enjoyed  better  than  his 


64  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

breakfast,  "the  good  man  of  the  house"  took  a. small  box 
from  a  shelf,  "when  out  dropped  nails,  screws,  buttons, 
and  among  the  rest  a  half  dollar.  He  asked  his  pastor  to 
take  out  one  shilling — the  rest  he  wanted  to  pay  for  mend- 
ing his  boots."  But  the  pastor,  soon  after  leaving  the 
house,  met  a  boy  that  he  deemed  more  needy  than  himself, 
and  gave  him  the  shilling.  This  was  doubtless  an  extreme 
case,  even  for  those  days,  yet  it  emphasizes  the  unques- 
tionable fact  that  the  country  was  still  under  great  financial 
pressure. 

Root  Kiver  Circuit,  formed  this  year,  seems  to  have 
been  made  up,  in  part,  of  territory  taken  both  from  Mil- 
waukee and  Racine,  of  the  former  year.  Henry  Whitehead, 
a  new  man,  was  appointed  to  the  new  circuit.  But  it 
should  be  remembered  that  the  preachers  in  those  days 
were  not  confined  within  exact  boundaries.  They  went  to 
"the  regions  beyond,"  and  won  territory  by  conquest. 

To  Racine  was  appointed  L.  F.  Moulthrop,  another 
new  man  in  our  work. 

Southport  became  a  separate  appointment,  with  S. 
Stebbins  as  pastor.  During  this  year  the  best  church  edi- 
fice in  the  Territory  was  completed.  It  had  a  seating  ca- 
pacity of  three  hundred  and  fifty,  and  was  valued  at  five 
thousand  dollars  But,  as  we  shall  see,  it  was  owned  by  a 
stock  company,  and  hence  can  not  be  regarded  at  this  time 
a3  a  Methodist  Church.  It  was,  however,  designed  and 
occupied  by  the  society  as  their  place  of  worship. 

Walworth  Circuit  disappears ;  but  in  its  place  come 
Burlington  and  Rochester — D.  Worthingtou,  pastor  ;  and 
Troy,  with  J.  McKean,  and  one  to  be  supplied. 

Sidney  Wood  was  appointed  to  Watertown,  and  H.  W. 
Frink  to  Summit,  a  new  circuit,  formed  in  part  from 
Watertown. 

The  work  of  this  year  shows  an  increase  in  member- 
ship of  596. 


ANNALS  OF  I84I.  65 

1841. 

The  work  is  now  expandiog  so  rapidly  that  it  is  im- 
practicable to  mention  each  charge  and  its  incumbent,  as 
heretofore.  New  men,  new  circuits,  and  changes  in  bound- 
aries, together  with  incidents  connected  with  the  progress 
of  the  work,  will  continue  to  claim  attention. 

Potosi,  the  scene  of  a  great  revival  the  preceding  year 
while  connected  with  PJatteville,  now  with  Lancaster, 
becomes  a  new  circuit,  to  which  were  appointed  Enos  P. 
Wood  and  Joseph  Hurlburt,  two  new  men  in  the  work. 
The  principal  event  that  attended  the  Church  at  Platte- 
ville  this  year  was  the  second  session  of  the  Rock  River 
Conference,  which  began  August  25,  1841.  This  indicates 
that  the  charge  had  attained  considerable  prominence. 

Though  Lancaster  was  taken  from  Prairie  du  Chieu 
this  year,  to  the  latter  place  alone  were  appointed  two 
preachers — A.  Brunson  aud  C.  A.  Wager,  a  new  man. 

Mineral  Point  stands  alone  in  the  Minutes,  with  J.  G. 
Whitford  as  pastor.  During  the  latter  part  of  this  Con- 
ference year  a  church  edifice  was  erected.  It  was  built  of 
stone,  of  suitable  dimensions  to  meet  the  demands  of  the 
place  for  several  years.  It  has  been  supposed  by  many 
that  a  small  churcli  was  built  there  in  1834,  and  so  firmly 
w^as  this  believed  that  during  a  session  of  the  West  Wis- 
consin Conference  there,  several  years  ago,  a  jubilant  com- 
memoration of  the  event  was  held,  and  canes  made  of  the 
wood  which  was  said  to  have  been  a  part  of  the  old  build- 
ing were  presented,  with  due  ceremony,  to  certain  honored 
brethren  in  the  ministry.  Others  think  all  this  was  a 
mistake ;  that  no  church  was  built  in  Mineral  Point  till 
1841.* 


*  Though  this  is  not  a  very  important  matter  in  itself,  such 
has  been  the  interest  in  it  that  a  summary  of  the  information 
in  possession  of  the  writer  is  here  given : 


66  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Soon  after  the  dedication  of  the  new  church  a  gracious 
revival  commenced.  It  is  thus  described  in  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Whitford  :  '*  The  blessed  Holy  Spirit  began  its  saving  work 
upon  the  hearts  of  the  people.  Seekers  kept  joining  the 
Church  until  I  found  it  necessary  to  form  a  new  class.  I 
proposed  to  take  the  new  class  and  called  for  volunteers. 
I  think  all  the  new  members  came  to  my  class,  the  major- 
ity of  which  were  unconverted.  At  the  first  meeting  the 
Spirit  of  God  moved  so  powerfully  upon  the  hearts  of  the 
people  I  could  not  hear  them  for  their  cries  for  mercy.  So 
I  called  them  to  their  knees,  and  before  we  arose  six 
were  converted.  Some  were  overpowered,  and  could  not 
rise.  At  the  next  class  four  more  were  set  at  liberty ;  and 
the  work  continued  until  fifty  were  added  to  the  church." 

This  was  after   the   old  style.      A  good  degree  of  the 
Jerusalem  fire  and  power  were  evidently  there.     The  deaf- 


1.  Rev.  Jas.  Lawson  (the  writer  of  "  Part  Tliird  "  of  this 
volume),  while  stationed  there  in  1870-1,  was  told  by  several 
that  a  small  log  chapel  was  built  there  in  1834. 

2.  Dr.  A.  Brunson,  in  his  "  Western  Pioneer,"  Volume  II, 
says :  "  At  my  first  visit  to  Mineral  Point,  in  1835,  we  met  in 
a  log  chapel  that  had  been  built  the  previous  year,  and  was 
the  first  Methodist,  as  well  as  Protestant,  church  built  in  what 
is  now  the  State  of  Wisconsin." 

3.  Rev.  A.  D,  Field,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer,  says  that 
while  teaching  school  there,  in  1848,  a  brother  told  him  of  the 
dedication  of  a  church  there  by  Richard  Haney,  in  1836  or 
1837,  and  that  his  sermon  on  the  occasion  was  considered  a 
very  remarkable  one. 

4.  Rev.  H.  W.  Reed,  pastor  there  during  the  Conference 
year  1837-8,  speaks  of  preaching  in  a  log  building,  a  little  out 
of  the  more  thickly  settled  part  of  the  village,  which  he  thinks 
was  built  for  a  church,  but  also  thinks  it  was  occupied  for 
other  purposes.  He  says:  "I  can  not  be  as  positive  as  I 
would  like  to  be."     He  resided  about  thirty  miles  distant. 

Now,  though  a  part  of  this  information  is  traditional,  which 
is  also  conflicting  (one  tradition  placing  the   matter  in  1834, 


ANNALS  OF  I84I.  67 

ening  cries  for  mercy  were  no  more  confusion  than  the 
many  tongues  on  the  day  of  Pentecost.  And  the  "over- 
powering "  Spirit  was  just  what  may  be  experienced,  more  or 
less,  in  every  revival  where  it  is  allowed /ree  course.  O,  for 
such  a  divine  afflatus  upon  all  the  Churches ! 

Dodgeville  and  Peddler's  Creek  were  out  appoint- 
ments, but  not  mentioned  in  the  Minutes. 

According  to  the  printed  Minutes,  Madison  and  Mus- 
coda  formed  one  pastoral  charge,  with  T.  M.  Fullerton 
and  one  to  be  supplied.  But  Mr.  Fullerton  assures  the 
writer  that  this  is  a  mistake;  that  "Jesse  L.  Bennett 
came  from  Missouri,  and  supplied  Madison  the  latter  part 
of  this  year  and  the  next ;"  that  his  own  appointment 
was  Muscoda.  This  was  a  new  circuit,  and  as  the  preacher 
had  just  been  received  on  trial,  it  gave  him  a  good  oppor- 
tunity to  prove  his  loyalty  to  the  itinerancy,  as  the  reader 
will  see.     He  describes  the  extent  of  his  circuit  as  includ- 


the    other  in  1836  or  1837),  and  though  Dr.  Brunson's  account 
we  know  to  be  incorrect  in  part,  yet,  in  the  absence  of  fur- 
ther information,  the  claim  that  a  church  edifice  was  erected 
there  in  1834  would  not  be  questioned. 
But  there  are  counter  representations : 

1.  Rev.  G.  J.  Whitford,  stationed  there  in  1840-1,  declares 
there  was  no  church  there  at  bis  arrival ;  that  the  stone  church 
(already  spoken  of)  was  built  and  dedicated  during  his  pas- 
torate, and  that  he  never  heard  an  allusion  to  a  previous  one. 

2.  Rev.  John  Crummer,  Mr.  Whitford's  immediate  prede- 
cessor, and  who  had  also  been  junior  preacher  there  during  a 
part  of  the  Conference  year  1836-7,  bears  the  same  testimony. 
He  says  he  preached  in  the  log  court-house,  and  describes  its 
location  as  a  little  out  of  town,  on  a  ridge  or  slight  elevation. 

3.  Richard  Haney,  pastor  there  in  1836-7,  who  is  said,  in 
one  of  the  above  traditional  accounts,  to  have  dedicated  the 
church,  declares  "there  was  no  church  there"  when  he 
went  there  as  pastor  ;  that  he  did  not  hear  that  there  ever  had 
been  one ;  that  he  did  not  dedicate  one  while  there ;  that  he 
"  preached  in  the  log  court-house." 


68  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

ing  "all  settlements  both  sides  of  Wisconsin  Eiver,  from 
Muscoda  to  Baraboo,  once  in  three  weeks.  Blue  Mounds 
were  on  the  east  line,  and  all  out-doors  west."  This  surely 
gave  him  sufficient  travel  for  healthful  exercise.  He 
seems  to  have  explored  that  new  region  thoroughly, 
preaching  to  small  congregations,  averaging  about  "eight 
each,  through  the  year;  once  had  only  two,  frequently 
five  or  six."  He  was  indeed  a  pioneer,  preaching  the  first 
time  in  the  following  places — except,  perhaps,  one,  where 
also  he  established  regular  appointments — viz.:  Prairie  du 
Sac,  September  12th  ;  the  Bluffs,  same  date ;  Blue  Kiver 
(now  Montfort),  September  26th;  Muscoda,  September 
27th;  Baraboo,  November  16th. 

On  the  7th  of  November,  1841,  he  formed  a  class  at 
Blue  River,  consisting  of  Eliza  P.  Meaker,  leader ;  Moses 
Meaker,  Alex.  Blair,  Sarah  Blair,  Lydia  C.  Blair,  and 
Harriet  Tyrer.  On  the  5th  of  February,  1842  (the  same 
Conference  year),  he  formed  one  at  Baraboo,  consisting  of 
Solomon  Shaffer,  leader ;  Ole  Shaffer,  Parmelia  Guilson, 
and  Mary  J.  Hill. 

We  see  in  this  case,  as  in  many,  the  real  genius  of  our 
itinerancy.  Instead  of  waiting  for  the  people  to  settle, 
improve  the  country,  and  call  a  preacher,  it  sends  him  on, 
almost  in  advance  of  the  people,  to  oflfer  them  the  Bread 
of  Life  at  their  arrival.  These  settlements  were  sparse 
and  small.  That  region  now  bristles  with  life  and  ac- 
tivity. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  J.  Crummer  visited  Sauk 
Prairie  in  1839,  preached  and  formed  a  class.  But  as  no 
preacher  had  found  his  way  thither  during  this  interim,  it 
is  probable  that  the  class  had  ceased  to  exist. 

Janesville  takes  its  place  in  our  records  this  year,  and 
will  be  found  to  occupy  an  increasingly  prominent  position. 
Alpha  Warren,  also  a  new  man,  was  pastor.  The  first 
gospel  sermon  preached  there  was  in  September,  1837,  by 


ANNALS  OF  mi.  69 

Jesse  Halstead,  then  on  Aztalan  Circuit.  The  services 
were  held  in  a  rude  structure  called  a  tavern,  the  preacher 
standing  in  the  place  where  the  fire-waters  of  death  were 
accustomed  to  be  dealt  out  (they  being  removed  for  the 
occasion),  and  there  directed  a  small  group  of  hearers  to 
the  fountain  of  life.  Religious  services  were  held  there 
but  a  few  times,  and  with  no  regularity,  till  1840,  when 
it  was  connected  with  Troy  Circuit.  The  preacher,  Jas. 
McKean  visited  the  place  about  once  in  four  weeks,  and 
in  the  spring  of  18  41,  it  is  said,  he  formed  a  class,  every 
member  of  which  left  the  place  in  course  of  a  few  mouths. 
In  1841  it  was  made  the  head  of  a  circuit,  and  was  in- 
cluded in  Platteville  District,  of  which  H.  AY.  Reed  was  in 
charge.  It  is  difficult  to  determine  its  precise  boundaries ; 
but  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  it  embraced  about  all 
the  settlements  in  Rock  County,  at  least.  A  quarterly 
meeting  was  held  by  the  presiding  elder  at  Milton,  some 
time  in  this  year. 

Hamilton  Grove  is  but  another  name  for  Helena  Cir- 
cuit. It  has  also  borne  the  name  of  Wiota.  Each  of 
these,  therefore,  indicated  about  the  same  territory,  which 
has  already  been  described.  This  grove  took  its  name 
from  a  son  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  the  wise  statesman 
but  foolish  victim  of  Aaron  Burr,  in  a  duel  that  marred 
the  fame  of  the  former  and  blighted  the  political  pros- 
pects of  the  latter.  Mr.  Hamilton  w^as  taken  off  by  the 
gold-fever  to  California,  where  he  died  very  poor.  His 
former  neighbors  showed  their  high  regard  for  him  by 
erecting  a  monument  to  his  memory. 

J.  R.  Goodrich,  whose  name  does  not  appear  in  the 
list  of  active  men  since  the  failure  of  his  health  in  Mil- 
waukee in  1837,  is  this  year  put  in  charge  of  Green  Bay 
District,  and  also  of  the  Church  in  that  place.  In  view 
of  his  pastoral  relations  to  the  Church  at  Green  Bay,  but 
two  other  charges    were  included  in  his   district — Oneida 


70  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

and  Brotbertown  Missions.  The  latter  has  so  far  been 
known  as  Deansburg,  thus  called  for  awhile  by  the  Brotb- 
ertown Indians,  in  honor  of  a  Mr.  Dean  who  had  rendered 
them  important  service  in  their  efforts  to  become  citizens. 
About  the  same  territory  seems  to  be  included  in  it  this 
year  that  constituted  Fond  du  Lac  Circuit  last  year.  It 
embraced  all  the  region  around  the  head  of  Winnebago 
Lake.  Jesse  Halstead  was  still  in  charge  of  the  field.  At 
some  period  during  the  previous  year  he  visited  the  place 
where  Oshkosh  now  stands,  and  preached  in  the  house  of 
Webster  Stanley.  This  was  the  first  Methodist  sermon  in 
that  vicinity.  Soon  after  the  Conference  of  1841  he  again 
visited  it  and  formed  a^class,  consisting  of  Ira  Aiken 
and  his  mother,  Mrs.  Aiken;  Rachael  Aiken,  his  sister; 
Mrs.  Chester  Ford,  Miss  Ann  Brooks,  and  Mrs.  Electa 
Wright. 

John  T.  Mitchell,  who  formed  the  first  Methodist  class 
in  Platteville,  and  dedicated  the  first  house  of  worship  in 
Wisconsin  among  the  white  population,  appears  as  pre- 
siding elder  on  Chicago  District,  which  embraced  seven 
appointments  on  our  soil.  He  had  been  doing  valiant 
service  for  eight  years  in  Illinois.  Meanwhile,  the  six 
members  he  enrolled  in  Platteville,  in  1833,  had  increased 
throughout  the  territory  to  1,491. 

Four  new  men  appear  in  the  list  of  appointments  this 
year,  viz.:  Wm.  Hewson,  junior  colleague  of  L.  F.  Moul- 
throp,  at  Troy;  P.  S.  Richardson,  junior  colleague  of  D. 
Worthington,  on  the  Burlington  work;  Silas  Bolls,  pastor 
at  Milwaukee;  and  F.  T.  Mitchell,  in  charge  of  South- 
port. 

Prairieville  (now^  Waukesha)  first  comes  to  view  this 
year  as  a  pastoral  charge.  H.  W.  Frink  formed  a  class 
there  in  the  Conference  year  1839-40,  consisting  of  Mr. 
Owen  and  wife,  Richard  Smart,  Truman  Wheeler  and  wife, 
Hiram  Wheeler  and  wife,  Theophilus  Haylett  (father  of 


ANNALS  OF  1S41.  71 

Rev.  H.  P.  Haylett,  of  our  Couference),  and  Horace 
Edsell.  The  first  Darned  was  leader.  It  thus  became  a 
stated  preaching-place  in  Watertown  Circuit.  The  next 
year  it  formed  a  part  of  Summit  Circuit.  A  church 
edifice  was  erected  in  1841.  It  has  generally  been  sup- 
posed that  Mr.  Frink  was  the  first  Methodist  preacher  that 
visited  Prairieville,  if  not,  indeed,  the  first  of  any  denom- 
ination. This  is  a  mistake.  Nathaniel  Walton,  recently 
deceased,  was  the  first  settler  there.  He  arrived  at  Mil- 
waukee from  Genesee  County,  New  York,  the  latter  part 
of  March,  1836.  The  following  summer  he  assisted  in 
cutting  a  wagon -road  through  to  the  little  prairie  that  aft- 
erwards gave  name  to  the  place.  In  October  of  the 
same  year  he  commenced  housekeeping  in  a  rude  cabin 
near  the  now  famous  "  Bethesda  Spring."  Others  soon 
came  and  settled  near.  An  account  of  the  commence- 
ment of  religious  services  is  here  given  in  Mr.  Walton's 
own  words:  "  One  devout  Christian  began  immediately  to 
observe  regular  hours  of  secret  prayer,  and  on  such  occa- 
sions all  the  neighbors  within  half  a  mile  could  plainly 
hear  his  every  word.  The  service  for  the  first  sermon 
preached  was  held  in  my  house,  the  clergyman  officiating 
being  that  good  Methodist,  Father  Wheelock."  Of  this 
pioneer  the  writer  has  been  able  to  obtain  but  little  in- 
formation, except  that  he  was  a  local  preacher  in  our 
Church,  residing  a  few  miles  distant  in  an  easterly  direc- 
tion, quite  advanced  in  life,  a  very  earnest  Christian,  and 
highly  esteemed  for  his  work's  sake. 

Little  is  known  of  the  history  of  Prairieville  during 
this  first  year  of  its  separate  existence  as  a  circuit,  except 
that  it  was  left  to  be  supplied,  and  that  180  members 
were  reported  from  it  at  the  next  Conference.  Thus  it 
seems  to  have  been  well  supplied,  and  the  report  a  proph- 
ecy of  its  future  prominence. 

Milwaukee    also   seems   to   have   been  favored  with  a 


72  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

"  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord,"  as  164  mem- 
bers— an  increase  of  about  ninety  per  cent — were  reported. 

Racine  was  supplied  by  some  one  unknown  to  the 
writer.  For  some  reason  its  membership  and  that  of 
South  port  were  reported  together,  and  showed  but  a  small 
aggregate  increase. 

From  the  entire  Conference  were  reported  2,327  mem- 
bers— an  increase  of  about  thirty-three  and  a  third  per 
cent. 

In  the  appointments  of  this  year  the  name  of  John  T. 
Mitchell  appears  for  the  last  time.  His  next  appointment 
was  Chicago.  He  remained  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Con- 
ference till  the  formation  of  the  Rock  River  Conference, 
which  carried  him  with  it,  and  in  which  he  became  dis- 
tinguished. He  was  one  of  the  representatives  of  that 
body  in  the  famous  General  Conference  of  1844,  by  which 
he  was  elected  assistant  Agent  of  the  Western  Book  Con- 
cern, at  Cincinnati.  He  was  subsequently  transferred  to 
the  Cincinnati  Conference,  and  filled  some  of  her  best  ap- 
pointments. The  writer  last  saw  him  at  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1856.  A  few  years  after  this  he  died,  in  the 
prime  of  manhood,  having  made  a  noble  record,  and  leav- 
ing a  name  embalmed  in  the  grateful  recollection  of 
thousands. 

David  Worthington  had  been  connected  with  the  Con- 
ference but  two  years.  After  this  session  he  passed  into 
Iowa,  where  he  continued  for  several  years  a  successful 
preacher,  and  became  somewhat  prominent  among  his 
brethren.     He  died  many  years  since. 


ANNALS  OF  I842.  73 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
1842-3. 

THIS  year  eight  pastoral  charges  on  our  soil  are  in- 
cluded in  Chicago  District,  five  in  Rock  River  Dis- 
trict (a  part  of  which  was  in  Illinois),  and  fifteen  in  Platte- 
ville  and  Green  Bay  Districts. 

H.  Crews  was  presiding  elder  on  the  first  district  named ; 
S.  H.  Stocking  was  in  charge  of  Rock  River  District;  B. 
T.  Kavanaugh,  of  Platte ville  District;  and  J.  R.  Good- 
rich was  continued  in  charge  of  Green  Bay  District. 

Mr.  Stocking  was  a  new  man  among  us;  Mr.  Kava- 
naugh had  been  in  the  Upper  Mississippi  Indian  work. 

One  of  the  most  noticeable  features  of  the  appointments 
this  year  is  the  large  proportion  of  new  men. 

The  whole  number  appointed  was  thirty-three,  of  which 
fourteen  had  not  been  previously  connected  with  our  work. 
These  were  Milton  Bourne,  Jas.  Mitchell,  J.  G.  Whit- 
comb,  N.  Jewett,  S.  H.  Stocking,  Alfred  M.  Early,  H. 
J.  Brace,  Washington  Wilcox,  S.  Stover,  G.  L.  S.  Stuff, 
Michael  Decker,  C.  G.  Lathrop,  R.  J.  Harvey,  William 
Vance,  and  J.  P.  Gallup,  the  five  last  named  having  just 
been  received  on  trial.  Some  of  these  soon  disappeared 
from  our  view ;  others  made  long  and  honorable  records, 
as  will  be  seen  in  due  time. 

This  large  force  of  ucav  men  is  the  more  noticeable  on  ac- 
count of  the  comparatively  small  increase  of  new  charges — 
only  five;  and  some  of  these  seem  not  to  indicate  entirely 
new  territory.    • 

6 


74  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Sugar  Creek  was  evidently  formed,  in  part,  from  Mon- 
roe Circuit,  though  it  may  have  taken  on  considerable  new 
ground. 

Winnebago  Lake  included  Fond  du  Lac,  that  had  for- 
merly been  a  part  of  the  Brothertown  work,  and  also  took 
some  new  territory  on  the  west  side  of  the  lake  that  gave 
name  to  the  circuit. 

Potosi  was  connected  the  year  before  with  Lancaster. 

Wisconsin  Pinery  Mission  was  indeed  a  new  work,  and 
indicated,  as  has  many  other  appointments,  the  care  of  our 
Church  for  those  beyond  ordinary  gospel  influences,  and 
the  facility  of  reaching  them  by  our  itinerant  system. 

Sylvania  is  the  name  of  a  new  circuit,  and  for  thirty- 
nine  years  indicated  the  head  of  a  pastoral  charge,  but 
has  entirely  disappeared  from  our  Minutes.  It  seems  to 
have  been  formed  in  part  from  portions  of  Southport  or 
Racine  Circuit,  or  both  of  the  preceding  year ;  for  we  now 
find  the  two  latter  united  in  one  charge,  with  James  Mitch- 
ell pastor.  Milton  Bourne,  a  new  man  in  our  territory, 
was  the  preacher  on  the  circuit — Sylvania.  He  had  been 
one  of  John  Clark's  helpers  in  the  Green  Bay  and  Lake 
Superior  Missions,  and  also  for  the  last  few  years  doing 
good  work  in  Illinois. 

A  prominent  point  in  Sylvania  Circuit  has  been  known 
as  Kellogg's  Corners  since  the  spring  of  1837,  at  which 
time  three  Kellogg  brothers  settled  there.  They  formed  a 
part  of  a  large  family,  most  of  whom  were  influential  and 
useful  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Their 
Christian  names  were  Chauncey,  Seth  H.,  and  Thaddeus, 
and  they  seem  to  have  been  "  uncles"  to  everybody.  Like 
their  brothers,  Leveret  S.,  of  Milwaukee,  and  Austin,  of 
Kenosha,  whose  zeal  and  usefulness  have  already  been  re- 
corded, their  religion  survived  a  removal  to  the  West. 
So,  the  first  Sabbath  after  they  became  settled,  they,  their 
wives,  father  and  mother — eight  in   all — members  of  the 


75 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  ten  children,  met  in  one 
of  the  rude  shanties  just  constructed,  for  a  pra5'er-meeting. 
This  being  over,  they  formed  a  Sunday-school,  of  which 
Mrs.  Seth  H.  Kellogg  was  appointed  superintendent. 
This  school,  beginning  with  ten,  has  been  running  con- 
stantly since  that  day.  At  that  time  there  was  but  one 
other  family  within  ten  miles,  the  place  being  equidis- 
tant from  Racine  and  Kenosha, 

In  the  summer  of  1860,  Mrs.  Kellogg,  having  previ- 
ously removed  from  the  vicinity,  returned  to  a  Sunday-school 
festival,  and  saw  three  hundred  children  gathered  from 
contiguous  points,  the  wife  of  the  superintendent  being 
one  of  the  original  ten.  Surely,  our  "  labor  is  not  in  vain 
in  the  Lord." 

These  earnest  workers  soon  commenced  the  erection  of 
a  house  of  worship.  The  people  were  few  and  poor,  but 
with  the  aid  of  two  hundred  dollars,  raised  by  a  sister  of 
the  Kelloggs  in  the  Sunday-schools  of  New  York — whose 
husband,  Rev.  Julius  Field,  was  one  of  the  pastors  in  that 
city — and  much  gratuitous  labor  by  Chauncey  Kellogg  as  a 
carpenter,  it  was  finished  in  1840,  and  stands  to  this  day, 
a  monument  of  their  Christian  zeal  and  self-denying  devo- 
tion. These  brothers  have  all  ''rested  from  their  labors." 
It  is  a  pleasure  to  contemplate  the  history  of  such  men. 
We  can  scarcely  estimate  the  world's  indebtedness  to  them. 

The  report  from  Sylvania  shows  174  members,  and 
from  Southport,  including  Racine,  279. 

Milwaukee  was  "left  to  be  supplied,"  but  not  to  he  neg- 
lected. Wm.  H.  Sampson,  so  long  and  so  favorably  known 
among  us,  was  transferred  from  the  Michigan  Conference 
and  stationed  there,  arriving  at  his  new  field  the  last  of 
August. 

The  reader  will  be  interested  in  a  brief  sketch  of  his 
work,  as  given  by  himself:  "He  found  among  the  leading 
male  members  of  the  Church  on  his  arrival,  L.  S.  Kel- 


76  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

logg,  Geo.  F.  Austin,  J.  L.  Bean,  Dr.  Walker,  J.  L. 
Smith,  A.  Hoimsome,  Daniel  Wait,  Alex.  T.  Wilson,  and 
Uriel  Farmin."  Mr.  Austin  is  one  of  the  few,  if  not  the 
only  survivor.  He  has  labored  long  and  well  for  the 
Church  of  his  early  choice,  highly  esteemed  as  a  man  of 
sterling  probity,  ''an  Israelite,  indeed,  in  whom  is  no  guile," 
and  now,  weighted  with  years  of  toil,  is  awaiting  the  call 
to  the  rest  of  the  faithful.  Thank  God  for  such  men ! 
Mr.  Sampson  continues :  "  Soon  after  my  arrival  I  was  in- 
formed there  had  been  a  committee  appointed  by  one  of 
the  other  Churches  to  visit  all  the  public  houses  in  the  city, 
to  escort  all  strangers  to  their  place  of  worship  ;  and  when 
inquired  of  where  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  wor- 
shiped, they  were  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  them  to 
give  any  information.  Strangers  expressed  their  surprise 
to  me  that  certain  business  men  knew  so  little  about  our 
people  and  their  place  of  worship,  as  ours  was  the  only 
Protestant  church-building  in  the  city.  I  early  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  the  other  clergymen,  and  as  soon  as  I 
thought  it  prudent  proposed  a  weekly  ministerial  meeting  for 
advancing  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  We  met  on  Monday 
morning,  and  I  proposed  that  we  should  report  to  each 
other  the  members  of  other  communions  we  might  chance 
to  find  in  our  pastoral  visiting.  This  soon  had  the  de- 
sired effect,  and  the  Sunday  morning  committee  became 
useless,  as  the  necessity  was  upon  us  to  be  faithful  in  our 
reports,  or  submit  to  each  other's  godly  admonitions ;  for 
in  these  we  were  sure  to  be  punctual  when  deserved.  I 
found  it  necessary  to  visit  much  to  defend  the  interests  of 
our  Church,  and  was  often  surprised  and  pained  to  find 
so  many  members  in  other  Churches  who,  in  the  East, 
were  converted  in  our  Church  and  identified  themselves 
with  us,  but  after  coming  to  Milwaukee,  either  from  mis- 
representations or  ambitious  motives,  had  joined  other 
Churches." 


ANNALS  OF  18 42.  77 

Mr.  Sampson  is  not  alone  in  the  experience  indicated 
in  this  extract.  Many  of  our  older  ministers  and  mem- 
bers especially,  can  appreciate  them.  In  instances — not  a 
few — after  the  self-sacrificing  "circuit-rider  "  had  pioneered 
the  country,  and  supplied  the  people  with  preaching  for  a 
year  or  two,  living  on  almost  nothing,  a  missionary  direct 
from  the  East,  just  out  of  college  or  theological  seminary, 
perhaps,  would  appear  in  the  village  or  growing  settle- 
ment, and  propose  that  all  interested  in  the  growth  of  the 
place  should  unite  in  sustaining  meetings  every  Sabbath. 
Meanwhile,  as  the  place  grew,  and  the  circumstances  of 
the  people  improved,  the  idea  would  be  made  prominent 
that  "the  best  society  is  in  the  Church." 

How  many  have  been  wheedled  by  these  considera- 
tions— "  town  improvement"  and  "  best  society" — we  have 
no  means  of  estimating.  Beyond  all  question  it  has  been 
considerable.  But  this  would  not  be  a  matter  of  much  re- 
gret if  the  w^ord  "best"  had  been  used  to  indicate  the 
highest  degree  of  moral  worth.  But,  alas !  it  often  meant 
the  most  fashionable,  the  most  worldly,  and  so,  of  course,  the 
least  Christ-like.  Nor  has  this  argument  become  entirely 
obsolete.  To  this  day  it  is  plied  occasionally  and  with 
much  earnestness,  "  O,  the  Methodists  are  a  good  sort 
of  people — a  little  cranky  and  superstitious — do  n't  allow 
their  young  people  any  latitude."  Thus,  those  who  are 
made  to  think  that  the  "  best  society  "  is  found  at  the  "  social 
hop"  or  the  "progressive  eucher  party,"  are  drawn  away. 
While  such  are  lost  to  Methodism,  they  are  also  usually 
lost  to  the  cause  of  righteousness,  by  being  removed  from 
the  instructions  that  would  lead  them  to  better  views  of 
experimental  and  practical  piety. 

From  all  that  appears,  a  kind  of  work  was  done  this 
year  in  Milwaukee  that  was  demanded  by  the  circum- 
stances, though  there  was  a  diminution  of  members. 

Jas.  Ash  was  appointed  to  Root  River  Circuit,  which 


78  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

had  enjoyed  the  labors  of  H.  Whitehead  for  the  two 
years  of  its  existence.  It  included  the  towns  of  Lake, 
Greenfield,  Franklin,  New  Berlin,  Oak  Creek,  and  Cale- 
donia. 

The  Quarterly  Conference  records  of  this  circuit  are 
before  me,  from  this  date  to  1860,  when,  after  a  hard 
struggle  for  life,  it  lost  its  identity  by  the  irresistible  influx 
of  a  foreign  population.  It  may  be  interesting  to  the 
reader  to  see  the  financial  exhibit  of  the  circuit  at  the 
close  of  the  year  1842.     It  is  as  follows  : 

Whole  sum  received $70  43 

As  quarterage 46  93 

Family  expenses 23  50 

Fortunately,  Mr.  Ash  had  only  a  wife  to  support.  But 
$70.43  would  not  be  deemed  at  this  time  a  very  enticing 
salary,  and  $23.50  would  indicate  rather  short  rations. 

The  Minutes  show  S.  P.  Keyes  as  the  preacher  at 
Madison ;  but  it  seems  that,  his  health  failing,  Jesse  L. 
Bennett  supplied  the  place. 

G.  L.  S.  Stuff  was  nominally  junior  preacher  at  Oneida. 
The  real  design  was  to  aid  Rev.  J.  R.  Goodrich,  having 
charge  not  only  of  the  Mission  District  as  presiding  elder, 
but  also  of  Green  Bay  Church  as  pastor.  So  the  labors 
of  Mr.  Stuff  were  divided  between  the  Indian  school  at 
Oneida  and  the  pastoral  work  at  Green  Bay,  in  the  absence 
of  Mr.  Goodrich. 

The  net  gain  of  the  year  throughout  the  work  was 
1,278,  the  total  number  this  year  being  3,605. 

After  this  year,  the  names  of  Hooper  Crews  and  S.  P. 
Keyes  no  more  appear  in  connection  with  Wisconsin.  Mr. 
Crews  had  been  two  years  on  districts  that  extended  into 
our  territory.  He  now  passed  into  Illinois,  where  he  be- 
came eminent  both  in  ability  and  usefulness.  Few  ever 
had  a  warmer  place  in  the  affections  of  all.  At  an  ad- 
vanced age  he  passed,  several  years  ago,  from  faithful  la- 


ANNALS  OF  I843.  79 

bor  to  fiual  rest.  Mr.  Keyes  spent  five  years  on  our  soil, 
and  then  went  into  the  more  southern  part  of  the  Con- 
ference. He  became  somewhat  distinguished  among  his 
brethren.  He  still  lives  in  a  ripe  old  age,  aw^aiting  the 
Master's  call. 

N.  Jewitt,  H.  J.  Brace,  and  W.  Vance,  after  one  year 
among  us,  followed  those  just  named  to  Illinois. 

1843. 

The  districts  and  their  incumbents  w^re  the  same  this 
year  as  last,  except  Rock  River,  of  which  J.  Sinclair  was 
in  charge. 

The  Minutes  show  six  new  pastoral  charges,  viz.:  Ge- 
neva, Whitewater,  Hazel  Green,  Highland  Prairie,  Mani- 
towoc, and  Sugar  River.  The  first  of  these,  however, 
probably  indicates  about  the  same  territory  as  did  Burling- 
ton of  the  previous  year;  and  Sugar  River  is  evidently 
substituted  for  Sugar  Creek.  Really,  therefore,  only  four 
can  be  called  new  appointments. 

Eleven  new  men  are  found  on  our  soil,  though  this 
does  not  indicate  that  so  many  were  added  to  the  force  of 
the  preceding  year.  •  As  the  Conference  was  not  formed 
w^ith  regard  to  State  or  Territorial  lines,  the  preachers 
w^ere  sent  from  Illinois  to  Wisconsin,  and  vice  versa,  as  now 
from  one  county  to  another. 

There  did  not  seem  to  be  a  lack  of  preachers,  as  only 
two  places  were  left  to  be  supplied.  These  were  Sylvania 
and  Janesville.  Special  notice  has  been  given  to  the  for- 
mer. The  latter  long  ago  became  a  very  prominent  ap- 
pointment in  our  Conference,  and  for  several  years  has 
contained  two  important  pastoral  charges. 

W.    H.    Sampson   was  removed    from    Milwaukee    to 
Southport,  and  Jas.  Mitchell  from  the  latter  place  to  the 
former — each  the  other's  predecessor  and  successor. 
^    The  church  edifice  at  Southport  was  built  and  owned 


80  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

by  a  stock  company.  It  was  not,  therefore,  a  Methodist 
church,  though  our  people  were  allowed  to  occupy  it.  Mr. 
Mitchell  had  secured  a  relinquishment  of  the  claims  of 
nearly  all  the  stockholders ;  but  on  account  of  dissatisfac- 
tion with  him,  he  could  do  no  more  in  that  line. 

Mr.  Sampson's  manly  bearing  and  conciliatory  manner 
were  just  adapted  to  the  emergency.  He  went  directly 
from  the  seat  of  the  Conference — Dubuque — to  Southport, 
obtained  the  requisite  signatures  of  the  other  parties,  and  had 
the  deed  properly  executed  and  recorded  before  he  reached 
his  family  in  Milwaukee.  Harmony  being  restored,  a 
house  of  worship  owned  by  the  worshipers,  and  general 
satisfaction  with  the  preacher,  a  pleasant,  prosperous  year 
naturally  followed. 

At  Milwaukee  the  most  important  event  of  the  year 
seems  to  have  been  the  commencement  of  a  new  church 
edifice.  The  growing  congregation  demanded  it,  and  the 
future  prospects  of  the  town  seemed  to  warrant  a  consid- 
erable outlay  for  this  purpose.  As  is  often  the  case,  es- 
pecially in  towns  divided  by  a  river,  there  was  some  diffi- 
culty in  deciding  upon  a  location.  Indeed,  in  this  case, 
considerable  strife  was  engendered,  and,  unfortunately,  the 
pastor  had  more  skill  in  fostering  than  in  allaying  that 
element.  The  site  finally  selected  was  the  corner  of  Spring 
(now  Grand  Avenue)  and  West  Water  Streets,  where  a 
plain  but  substantial  brick  building  was  erected,  forty-five 
by  ninety  feet.  The  auditorium  was  on  the  second  floor, 
easily  accessible  by  a  well-constructed  flight  of  steps  on  the 
outside.     On  the  ground-floor  were  four  stores. 

It  was  by  far  the  largest  and  best  Methodist  church 
edifice  in  our  territory.  A  pretty  large  debt  was  incurred 
in  its  erection,  which  would  have  been  fatal  perhaps,  but 
for  the  rent  of  the  stores.  This  debt  was  not  canceled 
till  1854,  when  the  building  was  burned.  Of  this,  more 
will  be  said  in  due  time. 


ANNALS  OF  18 43.  81 

Kacine  appears  again  this  year  as  a  separate  charge, 
with  Milton  Bourne  as  pastor. 

The  new  men  referred  to  on  a  previous  page  were  N. 
Swift,  junior  colleague  of  H.  AVhitehead,  on  Troy  Circuit; 
J.  M.  Snow,  at  Geneva ;  S.  Jones,  at  Aztalan ;  R.  Delap 
and  J.  Lewis,  on  Sugar  River  Circuit;  Jesse  L.  Bennett, 
on  Madison  Mission;  and  I.  M.  Leihy,  junior  colleasjue  of 
Jesse  Halstead,  on  Hazel  Green  Circuit.  In  after  years 
the  last  named  took  a  prominent  position  among  us,  as  will 
appear  in  due  time. 

Prairieville  (Waukesha)  this  year  received  two  preachers — 
L.  F.  Moulthrop  and  S.  Stover.  Its  dimensions  were 
probabably  not  increased,  except  as  they  might  be  able  to 
push  their  work  into  the  "regions  beyond."  Its  exact 
boundaries  are  not  known,  but  it  evidently  included  most 
of  the  settlements  in  Waukesha  County,  some  in  Milwaukee, 
and  all  in  Washington.  It  was  in  Chicago  District,  and 
Presiding  Elder  Crews — that  noble  man  of  God — assisted 
the  preachers  in  the  most  extensive  revival  of  religion, 
probably,  that  had  been  known  in  that  part  of  the  Terri- 
tory. 

Whitewater  appears  as  a  new  circuit,  with  Alpha  War- 
ren as  pastor.  It  was  in  Rock  River  District.  At  some 
time  in  the  Conference  year  of  1837-8  an  appointment  was 
established  in  this  place  by  those  indefatigable  workers,  S. 
Pillsbury  and  J.  Halstead,  of  whom  it  may  almost  be  said 
they  "  went  everywhere,  preaching  the  Word."  The  first 
sermon  is  said  to  have  been  preached  in  a  tavern ;  but 
just  where,  or  by  which  of  these  veterans,  is  not  known. 
Alpha  Warren  was  the  first  preacher  appointed  to  the  charge 
under  this  name,  as  he  was  also  the  first  appointee  to 
Janesville  Circuit. 

G.  L.  S.  StuiF,  who,  the  preceding  year,  divided  his 
labors  between  the  Indian  School  at  Oneida  and  the  pas- 


82  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

toral  work  at  Green  Bay,  was  this  year  put  in  charge  of 
the  latter  place. 

H.  R.  Colmau  continued  to  do  good  work  at  Oneida. 

Manitowoc  makes  its  first  appearance  this  year  in  our 
Minutes,  with  David  Lewis  as  pastor.  Mr.  Lewis  had 
been  one  year  on  trial  in  the  Conference,  junior  colleague 
of  Rufus  Lumery,  on  Indian  Creek  Circuit,  in  Illinois. 
To  reach  his  appointment  involved  about  two  hundred  and 
fifty  miles'  travel  on  horseback.  In  those  days  there  were 
no  railroads,  no  easy  carriages  here.  Methodist  preachers 
were  the  **  Lord's  cavalry."  The  first  of  this  young  itiner- 
ant's journey  was  over  broad  prairies  and  through  pleasant 
groves,  with  sufficient  inhabitants  to  render  travel  some- 
what comfortable.  The  latter  part  was  through  dense  and 
even  dismal  forests.  Especially  from  Milwaukee  to  She- 
boygan, it  presented  a  kind  of  romance  that  few  would 
covet.  He  had  traveled  in  company  with  H.  S.  Brunson, 
just  appointed  to  Winnebago  Lake  Mission,  from  Dubuque, 
the  seat  of  the  Conference,  to  Milwaukee.  Reaching  *'  Kil- 
burn  Hill,"  towards  the  northern  limit  of  our  present  me- 
tropolis, they  separated,  one  taking  the  ' '  Fond  du  Lac  road," 
the  other  the  "Green  Bay  road,"  each  plunging  into  a 
dense  wilderness. 

Soon  an  opportunity  arose  for  the  young  minister  to 
exhibit  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  he  had  recently  begun  to 
preach.  He  found  a  young  man  seated  on  a  log  in  sadness, 
bordering  despair.  He  had  just  landed  from  a  boat,  had 
been  terribly  sea-sick,  and  was  suffering  from  its  effects; 
had  lost  his  money,  and  had  started  for  some  northern 
point  in  that  dreary  land. 

Mr.  Lewis  encouraged  him  to  go  on,  and  kindly  offered 
him  the  use  of  his  horse  a  part  of  the  time.  Thus  they 
proceeded  in  company  the  rest  of  the  way,  walking  and 
riding  alternately.  At  Saukville,  twenty-two  miles  from 
Milwaukee,  night  overtook  them,  and  they  stopped  at  the 


ANNALS  OF  ms.  83 

ouly  house  there — a  sort  of  tavern.  All  seemed  agreeable 
to  the  proprietor  till,  by  some  means,  he  learned  that  Mr. 
Lewis  was  a  Methodist  preacher.  He  then  began  to 
rave,  and  would  have  turned  him  out,  but  the  night  w^as 
so  dark  and  the  road  so  obscure  that  he  knew  it  was  im- 
possible for  him  to  reach  another  place  of  entertainment. 
The  next  morning  the  good  Samaritan  settled  the  bill  of 
his  new  friend,  as  well  as  his  own;  but  he  could  do  so 
only  by  leaving  some  of  his  books  in  pawn  for  a  part 
of  it.  Then  he  started  for  his  destination — distant  about 
thirty  miles,  twenty  of  which  were  without  a  human  hab- 
itation. 

He  reached  Sheboygan  Falls  the  same  day,  and  found 
a  hearty  welcome  in  the  house  of  Mr.  James  Gibbs,  whose 
wife  w^as  a  Methodist.  This  place  was  a  part  of  his  charge, 
and  the  following  Sabbath  he  entered  upon  his  ^vork  there, 
preaching  in  the  morning  at  what  is  Sheboygan  City,  and 
in  the  evening  at  the  Falls.  His  circuit  was  immense  in 
extent,  including  all  the  settlements  from  Green  Bay  to 
Milwaukee ;  and  these  settlements  were  often  remote  from 
each  other — in  some  instances,  five  to  twenty  miles  would 
intervene  between  houses.  The  people  were  about  as  rough 
and  uncultivated  as  the  country.  Speaking  of  them  he  says : 
"The  inhabitants  were  mostly  lumbermen  and  sailors,  and 
whisky  was  almost  universal  king."  Nor  is  this  marvel- 
ous, for  probably  no  minister  of  the  gospel  had  traversed 
that  region  for  five  years. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  an  earlier  pioneer.  Rev.  H. 
W.  Frink,  was  sent  there  in  1837,  the  name  of  the  circuit 
being  Sheboygan.  The  financial  crash  so  checked  immi- 
gration, and  so  impoverished  the  country,  that  this  vast 
wilderness  had  been  neglected  from  the  autumn  of  1838  to 
that  of  1843. 

Not  far  from  October  1,  1843,  ]\[r.  Lewis  preached  at 
Manitowoc,  and  formed  a  class  of  eleven  members.     Those 


84  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

formed  by  Mr.   Frink,  if  any,  along  the  lake-shore,  had 
become  scattered  by  time. 

This  was  a  year  of  severe  toil  and  trial.  Few  could 
have  endured  so  well,  and  perhaps  fewer  still  would  have 
had  the  moral  heroism  it  required.  He  received  from  the 
people  for  his  year's  toil  twenty-jBve  dollars,  and  from  the 
Missionary  Society  fifty  dollars.  But  if  the  preacher  had 
hard  fare,  so  did  the  people.  Some  of  them,  he  tells  us, 
boiled  wheat  for  food,  as  they  were  unable  to  get  grinding 
done  without  going  to  Milwaukee. 

This  year  H.  W.  Frink  served  Brothertown,  which  was 
one  of  his  appointments  in  his  great  circuit  in  1837. 

Samuel  Spates  and  J.  Johnson  were  appointed  to  the 
mission  at  the  head  of  Lake  Superior,  called  Fond  du 
Lac,  but  this  did  not  continue  long  in  our  Minutes. 

Highland  Prairie  made  its  first  and  last  appearance 
this  year  in  the  Conference  appointments.  It  was  in  a 
northwesterly  direction  from  Watertown. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  work  no  very  marked  changes 
occurred.  Muscoda  and  Wisconsin  Pinery  were  dropped 
out  of  the  list  of  appointments,  and  Hazel  Green  was 
added,  which  remained  for  many  years  as  the  name  of  a 
pastoral  charge. 

The  total  increase  of  members  this  year  was  600,  the 
number  reported  this  year  being  4,205. 


Rev.  DAVID  LEWIS. 


Rev.  ELIHU   SPRINGER. 


Rev.  W.  G.  MILLER,  D.  D. 


Rev.  C.  HOBART,  D.  D. 


ANNALS  OF  1844.  85 


CHAPTER  IX. 
1844-5. 

THE  Conference  was  this  year  held  in  Milwaukee,  com- 
mencing July  24th. 

As  stated  on  a  preceding  page,  in  1837  Milwaukee 
gave  name  to  a  district  which  included  all  our  work  in  the 
eastern  part  ot  the  State — seven  pastoral  charges.  The 
mineral  region,  in  which  were  four  circuits,  was  embraced 
in  Galena  District.  For  four  years  Milwaukee  continued 
the  head  of  a  district,  and  then  was  superseded  by  Chi- 
cago. This  name  also  continued  for  three  years.  Mean- 
while the  work  had  so  expanded  that  the  number  of 
charges  within  the  territory  covered  by  Milwaukee  District 
in  1837  had  more  than  tripled.  In  the  mineral  region  the 
circuits  had  just  doubled. 

This  year  (1844)  Milwaukee  District  again  appears, 
with  James  Mitchell,  presiding  elder. 

Wm.  H.  Sampson  is  placed  in  charge  of  Greeti  Bay 
District. 

B.  T.  Kavanaugh  remains  on  Platteville  District,  and 
S.  H.  Stocking,  after  a  year's  absence,  returns  to  Rock 
River  District,  which  has  five  circuits  in  Wisconsin. 

Very  little  change  is  seen  from  the  previous  year  in 
Platteville  District  in  the  circuits — really  none  of  note, 
except  that  St.  Croix  was  dropped  and  Blue  River  added. 
The  former  was  on  the  Upper  Mississippi,  and  had  been 
more  or  less  connected  with  the  Indian  work  there,  which 
at  that  time  was  disappearing  or  moving  farther  north  ward. 


86  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Blue  River  had  probably  been  a  part  of  Hamilton 
Grove  Circuit,  and  this  year  becomes  the  head  of  a  pas- 
toral charge.  It  is  now  called  Montfort,  a  growing  town 
in  Iowa  County,  and  an  appointment  of  considerable  im- 
portance in  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference.  The  circuit 
extended  to  Wisconsin  River.  John  Penman,  just  received 
on  trial,  was  the  pastor.  Though  there  were  so  few  changes 
in  the  appointments,  there  .were  many  in  the  appointees, 
C.  G.  Lathrop  and  I.  M.  Leihy  only  remaining  on  their 
former  charges ;  the  former — alone  on  Lancaster  Circuit 
the  year  before — received  as  junior  colleague  Wm.  Allen  ; 
and  the  latter,  junior  preacher  the  previous  year  on  Hazel 
Green  Circuit,  was  placed  in  charge  of  it,  with  P.  S.  Rich- 
ardson as  colleague. 

Salmon  Stebbius  was  appointed  to  Madison.  This  place, 
then  the  capital  of  the  Territory  and  now  of  the  State, 
had  been  in  the  list  of  appointments  for  seven  years,  sup- 
plied a  part  of  the  time  by  local  preachers  as  they  could 
be  obtained ;  and  when  a  preacher  was  appointed  from  Con- 
ference it  shared  only  a  small  part  of  his  labors,  which 
were  extended  over  a  large  area.  Perhaps  this  was  the 
best  that  the  circumstances  would  allow ;  but  to  us,  at  this 
distance,  it  seems  that  more  concentrated  labor  should  have 
been  bestowed  upon  a  point  of  such  prospective  importance. 
In  1837  it  appeared  first  a  separate  charge,  and  Avas  in  Mil- 
waukee District,  presided  over  by  Mr.  Stebbins.  As  already 
stated,  he  visited  the  place  and  preached  the  first  gospel  ser- 
mon there  November  28th. 

Ch^een  Bay  District  underwent  a  considerable  change ; 
Fond  du  Lac,  at  the  head  of  Lake  Superior,  disappeared 
from  the  Minutes,  and  Fond  du  Lac,  at  the  head  of  Lake 
Winnebago,  came  to  view  in  connection  with  Taycheedah, 
as  a  pastoral  charge. 

Watertown  and  Pewaukee  also  were  included  in  the  dis- 
trict.    The  district,   though  not  so  extensive  as   in  some 


ANNALS  OF  IS44.  87 

previous  years,  was  yet  immense  in  territory.  It  extended 
from  Green  Bay  and  Oneida  on  the  north  to  Pewaukee  on 
the  south,  and  from  Lake  Michigan  west  to  the  Wisconsin 
River.  The  paucity  of  the  inhabitants  and  the  wilduess 
of  the  country  made  it  a  very  hard  field  of  labor.  Presid- 
ing Elder  Sampson  made  Fond  du  Lac  his  residence,  and 
his  was  the  fifth  family  in  the  place. 

Oneida  and  Brothertown  Indian  Missions  were  the  only 
charges  that  retained  their  former  pastors.  But  H.  W. 
Frink,  appointed  to  the  latter,  vacated  it  after  a  few  months, 
to  settle  the  estate  of  his  father-in-law,  and  W.  G.  Miller, 
then  an  "  exhorter,"  was  employed  to  fill  out  the  year. 

Fond  du  Lac  and  Taycheedah  seem  to  indicate  the  field 
of  Joseph  Lewis,  but,  like  many  of  the  preachers  of  that 
day,  he  extended  his  labors  to  ''regions  beyond."  To  the 
eastward  he  penetrated  the  wilderness  far  towards  Sheboy- 
gan, to  the  southward  as  far  as  Waupun. 

Winnebago  Lake,  that  had  for  two  years  included  Fond 
du  Lac,  was  extended  this  year  farther  west  and  north. 

Mr.  Webster  Stanley,  Geo.  and  Wm.  Wright,  with  their 
families,  constituted  the  inhabitants  on  the  north  side  of 
Fox  River,  where  Oshkosh  now  stands.  A  few  miles  out, 
southward  and  northward,  were  perhaps  a  half  dozen  other 
families.  Wm.  Wright  and  his  wife  became  members  of 
the  Church,  and  continued  so,  as  well  as  residents  of  the 
city,  for  several  years,  and  many  an  itinerant  shared  the 
hospitality  of  their  house. 

Mr.  Stanley  afterwards  removed  up  the  Wolf  River  to  a 
place  now  known  as  Stanley's  Landing ;  thence,  after  several 
years,  to  Appleton,  where  he  resided  for  several  years,  when 
he  removed  to  Dakota,  where  he  died  in  December,  1887, 
always  respected  by  those  who  knew  him.  To  this  circuit 
J.  H.  Hurlburt  was  appointed,  and  the  reader  will  think, 
from  its  sparse  population,  that  it  was  not  a  very  inviting 
field. 


88  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Pewaukee  was  a  new  circuit,  covering  five  towuships ; 
viz.,  Pewaukee,  Menominee,  Lisbon,  Warren,  and  Dela- 
field.  To  this,  David  Lewis  was  assigned.  He  seems  to 
have  had  a  successful  year,  as  here  he  found  a  wife  (who 
still  lives  to  cheer  him  in  his  pilgrimage),  and  reported  65 
members. 

F.  A.  Savage  was  appointed  to  Milwaukee,  Robert 
Beatty  to  Root  River,  and  C.  D.  Gaboon  to  Southport — 
all  new  men.  The  first  two  had  just  been  received  on  trial 
by  the  Conference ;  the  last  was  transferred  from  New 
Hampshire  Conference.  The  next  year  he  was  appointed  to 
Rockford,  where,  after  preaching  one  Sabbath,  he  was 
called  to  his  reward.  He  is  mentioned  with  great  tender- 
ness, by  those  who  knew  him,  as  a  very  devout  man,  an 
excellent  and  successful  preacher.  The  other  two  passed 
from  our  territory  after  this  year. 

Washington  Mission  was  a  new  work,  formed  in  part 
from  Prairieville  Circuit,  but  extending  far  north  into  new 
territory,  including  all  the  settlements  in  Washington 
County.     It  was  in  charge  of  J.  M.  Snow. 

L.  F.  Moulthrop  remained  on  Prairieville  Circuit  with- 
out an  assistant. 

Monroe  and  Sugar  River  Circuits,  in  Rock  River  Dis- 
trict, both  received  new  men — the  former,  Charles  McClure ; 
the  latter,  S.  W.  Martin. 

Some  time  during  the  wiuter  of  1843-4  a  church  edi- 
fice was  commenced  by  our  people  in  Racine,  and  completed 
not  far  from  the  following  Christmas.  It  cost  about 
$4,500,  and  would  seat  three  hundred  and  fifty  persons. 

The  names  of  James  Mitchell  and  G.  L.  S.  Stuff" disap- 
peared from  our  records  after  this  year.  The  former  occupied 
a  conspicuous  position,  and  was  evidently  a  man  of  much 
ability;  but  he  was  quite  as  distinguished  for  promoting 
party  strife  as  for  his  usefulness.  The  latter  began  a  good 
record  with  us,  and   continued  it  in  the  Rock  River  Con- 


ANNALS  OF  IS 45.  89 

ference  for  many  years ;  he  recently  passed  to  his  reward 
in  a  ripe  age,  and  will  be  long  remembered  as  a  faithful 
and  able  minister  of  the  gospel. 

For  six  years,  between  1837  and  1844  inclusive,  Sal- 
mon Stebbins  held  a  prominent  position  in  Wisconsin,  two 
of  which  he  was  in  charge  of  Milwaukee  District.  He 
was  a  transfer  from  Troy  Conference,  and  after  1844  he 
passed  into  the  more  southern  part  of  Rock  River  Confer- 
ence.    He  died  several  years  ago  at  an  advanced  age. 

B.  T.  Kavanaugh  and  Silas  Bowls  both  appear  on  our 
soil  in  1841,  and  pass  off  in  1845.  The  former  located  in 
1846  ;  the  latter  continued  for  many  years  a  zealous  laborer 
in  connection  with  the  Rock  River  and  Minnesota  Confer- 
ence.    H.  S.  Brunson  gave  us  but  two  years'  work. 

1845. 

No  less  than  eighteen  new  men  appear  this  year  on  our 
soil.  The  reader  is  referred  to  Appendix  A  for  their 
names.  Some  of  them  became  quite  distinquished  in  our 
annals — not  the  least  of  whom  was  Henry  Summers,  in 
charge  of  Platteville  District.  Already  a  veteran,  he  did 
grand  service  for  many  years  thereafter. 

Elihu  Springer  was  another  new  man  among  us,  though 
in  the  itinerancy  since  1834.  He  was  stationed  at  Min- 
eral Point ;  he  held  an  honorable  position,  as  will  be  seen,  for 
a  few  years,  and  then  passed  on  to  his  reward. 

Several  new  charges  appear  in  the  Minutes  for  this 
year,  though  they  do  not  so  much  indicate  new  territory  as 
a  demand  for  increased  labor  on  territory  already  acquired. 
One  of  these  was  Dodgeville.  It  had  been  included  in 
other  circuits  for  some  years.  J.  G.  ^yhitford  was  pastor. 
Sauk  Prairie,  the  name  of  another  new  pastoral  charge, 
does  not  indicate  entirely  new  territory.  It  was  visited  first 
by  J.  Crummer  in  1839,  and  in  1841  was  taken  under  pas- 
toral care,  and  continued  as  a  part  of  other  circuits  till 


90  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

this  year.  The  same  is  substantially  true  of  Uuiou,  Green 
Lake,  Lowell,  Whitewater,  and  Elkhorn,  so  far  as  their 
relation  to  other  circuits  is  concerned. 

The  territory  embraced  in  Union  Circuit  was  included 
in  Monroe  in  1840  and  1841,  in  Madison  in  1842,  in  Janes- 
ville  in  1843  and  1844.  After  the  last  date  it  was  the 
head  of  a  circuit  for  several  years.  Asa  AYood  was  in 
charge  of  it  for  two  years  from  its  formation. 

We  find  two  preachers  this  year  on  Madison  Mission, 
but  do  not  learn  that  much  more  labor  was  bestowed  on 
the  village  than  formerly. 

W.  H.  Sampson  was  continued  in  charge  of  Green  Bay 
District.  Though  it  contained  but  twelve  pastoral  charges, 
it  covered  an  immense  area,  and  the  roads  in  many  parts 
of  it  were  horrible,  rendering  it  a  very  laborious  field. 

The  Minutes  show  that  every  circuit  was  furnished  with 
a  pastor  from  the  Conference. 

H.  E.  Colman,  who  had  labored  at  Oneida  successfully 
for  four  years,  was  succeeded  by  C.  G.  Lathrop,  The 
vast  wilderness  included  in  Monitowoc  Mission  of  the 
previous  year,  now  appears  in  two  missions — Monitowoc, 
with  S.  W.  Martin  in  charge;  and  Sheboygan,  with  Joseph 
Lewis. 

The  following  incident  will  illustrate  somewhat  both 
the  character  of  the  work  in  those  days  and  the  manner  of 
doing  it :  General  Blake,  an  old-time  friend  of  the  writer 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  having  recently  come  to  the 
country,  was  making  his  way  on  horseback  as  best  he  could 
through  the  dense  forest  south  of  Sheboygan,  when  he  met 
a  small  man  on  foot,  and  accosted  him  thus:  "What  in 
the  world  are  you  doing  in  such  a  place  as  this?"  '* Hunt- 
ing up  souls,"  was  the  significant  reply.  The  general  was 
forcibly  impressed  with  his  simplicity  of  manner  and  ear- 
nest zeal.  A  little  further  conversation  revealed  the  fact 
that  he  was  a  Methodist  preacher.     Each  went  on  his  way. 


ANNALS  OF  184-5.  91 

but  the  words  "  huntiDg  up  souls"  continued  to  ring  in  the 
general's  ears.  He  was  hunting  land.  The  minister  was 
in  search  of  what  was  of  more  value  than  all  Avorlds. 
When  the  general  related  this  to  the  writer  years  after- 
wards, he  had  forgotten  the  name  of  the  preacher,  but  not 
the  incident.  A  little  inquiry  showed  that  the  soid-hunfer 
was  Joseph  Lewis.  In  spite  of  great  opposing  influences, 
he  had  a  prosperous  year. 

Three  other  honored  names  appear  in  the  list  of  ap- 
pointments this  year  for  the  first  time,  viz.:  S.  W.  Ford, 
to  Hamilton  Grove ;  W.  G.  Miller,  to  Green  Lake ;  and 
J.  M.  Walker,  to  Elkhorn.  It  is  noticeable  that  all  ap- 
pointments in  Green  Bay  District,  except  Aztalan  and 
Whitewater,  were  missions;  and  perhaps  quite  as  much  so, 
that  the  former  was  a  mission  the  year  before  with  but  one 
preacher,  and  this  year  is  self-supporting  with  two — C.  N. 
Wager  and  S.  B.  Whipple. 

H.  S.  Stocking  was  removed  from  Kock  River  District, 
a  part  of  which,  as  constructed  the  previous  year  was  in 
Wisconsin,  to  Milwaukee  District. 

All  our  work  this  year  was  included  in  the  three  dis- 
tricts named. 

Milwaukee  was  left  to  be  supplied.  Abraham  Hanson, 
a  young  man  of  good  ability  and  winning  manners,  was 
secured  for  the  place.  He  did  a  successful  year's  work, 
and  left  many  warm  friends — no  enemies.  He  will  come 
to  view  again  in  due  time. 

David  Lewis  was  appointed  to  Root  River  Circuit, 
which  covered  seven  townships;  viz.,  Oak  Creek,  Lake, 
Greenfield,  Franklin,  New  Berlin,  Raymond,  and  Norway. 

Racine  was  served  by  Julius  Field.  Mr.  Field  com- 
menced his  ministry  in  the  New  York  Conference,  and  was 
transferred  to  Illinois  Conference  in  1839.  He  served  two 
years  on  Milwaukee  District,  four  years  as  Bible  agent, 
and  at  the  close  of  one  year's  pastorate  at  Racine  returned 


92  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

to  his  old  Conference,  where  he  continued  to  render  effect- 
ive service  for  several  years  longer,  and  died  well,  in  the 
midst  of  his  earlier  associations.  Mrs.  Field  was  a  sister 
of  the  Kelloggs,  several  of  whom  were  distinguished  and  use- 
ful laymen  in  the  early  history  of  our  work  in  Wisconsin. 

Menominee  Mission  of  this  year  is  substantially  the 
same  as  Washington  Mission  of  last  year,  J.  M.  Snow 
continuing  in  charge. 

Washington  Wilcox  became  identified  this  year  with 
Wisconsin  Methodism,  and  continued  so  to  the  close  of  a 
long  and  useful  life.  He  was  in  char2;e  of  Sylvania  Circuit. 
The  reader  will  learn  more  of  him  hereafter. 

It  is  difficult  to  give  the  boundaries  of  some  of  these 
circuits — indeed,  some  of  them  seem  to  have  had  none. 
Said  Presiding  Elder  Sampson  to  W.  G.  Miller,  in  answer 
to  an  inquiry  as  to  the  boundaries  of  Green  Lake  Circuit, 
to  which  he  had  just  been  appointed:  "Fix  a  point  in  the 
center  of  AVinnebago  Marsh  [now  known  as  Lake  Horicon], 
and  draw  a  line  to  the  north  pole,  and  another  due  west  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  you  will  have  your  eastern  and 
southern  boundaries;  as  to  the  other  lines  you  need  not  be 
particular."  This  was  about  as  good  a  description  as  he 
could  give  in  few  words. 

The  young  itinerant  started  out  to  explore  his  field,  and 
make  conquests  for  his  Master.  His  labors  extended  to 
Ceresco  (where  now  stands  the  beautiful  city  of  Ripon), 
Dartford,  Kingston,  Waupun,  Marcellon,  Fox  Lake,  Bur- 
net, Alto,  Oakfield,  Cambria,  and  Wedge's  Prairie,  near 
Brandon,  forming  classes  in  nearly  every  place.  Waupun, 
also  in  his  work,  already  had  an  organized  society,  of  which 
the  preacher  was  a  member  when  called  out  into  the  itiner- 
ant work.  He  desired  to  establish  an  appointment  at 
Strong's  Landing  (now  the  City  of  Berlin),  but  on  reach- 
ing the  place  found  not  a  human  habitation.  Thus  the 
"  itinerancy  was  ahead  of  the  pioneer." 


AXXALS  OF  1S45.  93 

Early  m  the  Conference  year  the  demand  for  preaching 
at  new  points  was  so  general  that  another  preacher,  Uriel 
Farmin,  was  put  into  this  field  as  the  pastor's  colleague. 
They  worked  together  in  great  harmony  and  with  mutual 
esteem  for  each  other.  But  though  very  successful  in  win- 
ning souls,  the  preacher  in  charge  received  only  thirty-six 
dollars  and  board ;  and  he  thinks  Mr.  Farmin  did  not  re- 
ceive more.  They  left  the  circuit  with  twenty-four  appoint- 
ments and  184  members,  most  of  whom  were  gathered  in 
that  year. 

Lowell  included  also  Fountain  Prairie,  Columbus,  and 
the  country  far  south. 

Monitowoc  Circuit  meant  at  least  the  entire  county. 
Its  few  inhabitants  were  a  rough  class  of  people.  The  fol- 
lowing incident,  furnished  by  Rev.  AV.  H.  Sampson,  will 
confirm  this,  and  in  part  explain  the  reason  for  abandon- 
ing the  field  as  it  was  for  a  time  after  this  year.  After 
referring  to  the  great  difficulty  in  getting  a  house  to  live  in, 
he  says:  ''Brother  Martin  was  earnest  in  defense  of  the 
truth.  There  was  a  great  amount  of  intemperance  on  his 
work,  and  he  favored  the  community  with  a  course  of  tem- 
perance lectures,  and  announced  that  the  closing  one  would 
be  King  Alcohol's  funeral  sermon.  There  was  a  general  gath- 
ering of  everybody  in  the  country  around.  At  the  close 
of  the  opening  exercises,  as  he  arose  to  take  his  text,  the 
door  opened,  and  about  a  dozen  men,  dressed  in  the  most 
fantastic  costume  conceivable,  presented  themselves.  He 
very  composedly  requested  the  audience  to  make  room  for 
the  mourners,  and  after  having  them  seated  he  proceeded 
with  the  sermon,  and  at  the  close  addressed  the  mourners 
very  pathetically  and  appropriately.  Mr.  Bruce,  who 
gave  me  the  account  of  the  affliir,  was  shocked  and  dis- 
gusted with  the  chaps,  and,  although  not  religious,  went 
after  the  fellows,  and  made  them  furnish  Martin  with  a 
full  suit  of  broad-cloth — coat,  pants,  vest,  hat,  shoes,  socks, 


94  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

gloves,  etc.,  and  he  came  to  Conference  as  well  dressed  as 
the  best." 

This  incident  suggests  two  thoughts:  1.  Methodist 
preachers  in  the  past,  as  now,  were  fearless  in  denouncing 
intemperance,  even  amid  the  rage  of  its  infuriated  victims. 
2.  It  is  always  safe  to  stand  erect  on  Christian  principle, 
and  it  often  "pays"  better,  so  far  as  this  world  is  con- 
cerned. 

This  year  is  distinguished  as  the  first  from  which 
there  was  a  reported  decrease  in  numbers.  There  was  a 
falling  off  of  52  members,  but  an  increase  of  six  preachers. 
When  we  remember  that  through  the  labors  of  this  heroic 
band  600  were  added  to  the  host  of  Immanuel  the  previ- 
ous year,  this  reaction  is  not  a  matter  of  astonishment. 


ANNALS  OF  1846.  95 


CHAPTER  X. 

1846-7. 

THE  work  iu  Wisconsin  continues  this  year  as  last,  in 
three  districts — Platteville,  Green  Bay,  and  Milwau- 
kee— presided  over  respectively  by  the  same  men,  viz.:  H. 
Summers,  W.  H.  Sampson,  and  S.  H.  Stocking.  A.  Wolis- 
craft  performed  his  first  and  last  year's  work  among  us  as 
pastor  at  Platteville. 

Lancaster  and  Potosi  were  this  year  united  in  one  pas- 
toral charge,  to  which  John  Crummer  was  appointed. 
He  had  explored  this  territory  in  1836  and  1837,  while 
on  Platteville  Circuit.  The  reader  may  recall  his  adven- 
ture with  a  drunken  rabble,  on  his  way  to  an  appointment 
in  Snake  Hollow  (now  Potosi),  and  the  triumph  of  grace 
that  attended  his  work  there. 

J.  Penman  completed  the  full  constitutional  term  of 
ministerial  service  at  Prairie  du  Chien. 

St.  Croix  first  appeared  in  our  Minutes  as  an  appoint- 
ment in  the  Indian  Mission  District  in  1841,  and  thus 
continued  until  1843,  when  it  was  included  in  the  work' 
among  the  general  population,  but  disappeared  thereafter 
for  two  years.  It  now  resumes  its  place,  with  J.  W. 
Putnam  as  pastor.  Though  St.  Croix  was  in  Wisconsin, 
he  extended  his  labors  into  Minnesota,  and  formed  one  or 
more  classes.  During  his  second  year  a  lot  was  donated 
for  a  church  edifice  on  the  present  site  of  St.  Paul. 

Madison  Mission  still  had  two  preachers — F.  Smith 
and  R.  R.  Farusworth.     Its  boundaries  for  this  year  can 


96  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSfN. 

not  be  given  here,  but  they  must  have  been  considerably 
curtailed  by  the  formation  of  new  circuits  from  its  original 
territory. 

Asa  Wood  is  still  at  Union,  on  his  second  year.  At 
some  time  during  the  Conference  year  1842-3,  S.  P. 
Keyes,  then  in  charge  of  Madison  Circuit,  Avhich  embraced 
what  had  now  become  Union  Circuit,  secured  the  erection 
of  a  house  on  the  present  site  of  Evansville,  designed 
both  for  a  school  and  a  place  of  worship.  The  society 
continued  to  occupy  it  for  the  latter  purpose  till  the  sum- 
mer of  1847,  when,  under  the  labors  of  Mr.  Wood,  it 
gave  place  to  a  neat  frame  church  edifice,  forty-five  by 
thirty  feet.  It  was  dedicated  in  June  of  that  year  by  11. 
Summers,  the  presiding  elder  of  the  district. 

No  special  circumstances  are  known  in  connection  with 
Monroe,  Hamilton  Grove,  or  Dodgeville.  Each  had  a 
change  of  pastoral  oversight.  To  the  latter,  as  junior 
preacher,  was  appointed  Benj.  Close,  just  received  on  trial 
by  the  Conference. 

I.  M.  Leihy,  who  had  been  absent  a  year  from  our 
soil,  is  this  year  in  charge  of  Mineral  Point,  and  his 
predecessor  there,  Elihu  Springer,  is  removed  to  Hazel 
Green. 

The  pastoral  charges  in  Green  Bay  District — twelve  in 
number — remain  the  same  as  last  year,  with  a  single  ex- 
ception ;  viz.,  Manitowoc  is  dropped  and  Waupuu  is  added. 
Five  new  men  are  in  the  list  of  appointments  in  this 
district,  viz.:  R.  P.  Lawton,  at  Green  Bay ;  J.  S.  Pres- 
cott,  at  Sheboygan;  A.  B.  Randall,  at  Green  Lake; 
A.  P.  Allen,  at  Waiipun;  and  N.  S.  Green,  at  Aztalan. 
They  had  all  just  been  received  as  probationers  by  the 
Conference,  and,  so  far  as  appears,  all  did  the  work  as- 
ssigned  them  creditably.  All  the  charges  were  missions 
except  Watertown,  Aztalan,  and  Whitewater.  Three  of 
the  appointments  were  filled  with  two  preachers  each,  viz.: 


ANNALS  OF  1846,  97 

Green  Lake,  with  A.  B.  Randall  and  G.  N.  Hanson ; 
Lowell,  with  S.  Jones  and  S.  W.  Martin ;  and  Whitewater, 
with  J.  H.  Hurlburt  and  A.  Warren.  Some  of  the  others 
covered  territory  enough  to  employ  more  ministerial  labor, 
but  neither  men  nor  means  were  adequate  to  the  demand. 
Sheboygan  is  worthy  of  special  notice  in  this  respect. 
It  included  the  entire  county — a  dense  forest,  dotted  here 
and  there  with  settlements.  Its  pastor,  J.  S.  Prescott,  was 
a  man  of  great  energy  and  commensurate  physical  endur- 
ance, as  the  reader  may  infer  when  told  that  he  traveled 
that  immense  circuit  entirely  on  foot.  This  gave  an  earnest 
that  he  would  be  heard  from  in  coming  years — as  he  was. 
Though  there  Avas  no  change  in  the  incumbent  of  Mil- 
waukee District,  every  pastoral  charge  in  it  was  fur- 
nished with  one  or  more  new  preachers  except  Root  River. 
Here  David  Lewis  remained,  and  finished  his  two  years 
of  successful  toil, 

J.  P.  Gallup  also  remained  on  Troy  Circuit,  where  he 
seems  to  have  been  alone  the  previous  year,  and  now  re- 
ceives as  a  colleague  M.  L.  Reed,  a  new  man  on  our  soil, 
as  well  as  on  this  circuit. 

Six  other  new  men  appear  in  our  territory,  viz.:  W. 
M.  D.  Ryan,  at  Milwaukee;  John  Chandler,  at  South- 
port  ;  J.  C.  Parks  and  Geo.  Lovesee,  on  Geneva  Circuit ; 
J.  Bean,  on  Big  Foot;  and  J.  Leekenby,  on  Menominee 
Mission. 

Mr.  Ryan  was  a  remarkable  man — remarkable  in  sev- 
eral ways.  He  was  remarkable  for  his  histrionic  talent ;  for 
his  power  to  sway  an  audience  ;  for  his  unbounded  self-as- 
surance and  self-assertion  ;  for  the  way  he  could  use  these 
last  two  traits  to  draw  so  many  and  disgust  so  few ;  in 
short,  for  his  ability  to  do  an  immense  amount  of  business 
on  small  capital,  aside  from  the  qualities  above  named. 
At  the  closQ  of  this  year  he  was  transferred  to  Baltimore 
Conference,  whence  he  came  a  few  years  before,  and  where 

8 


98  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

he  passed  most  of  his  ministerial  life.  With  many  eccen- 
tricities, he  was  always  successful  in  sustaining  himself^  and 
usually  in  advancing  the  -svork  committed  to  his  care. 

John  Chandler,  in  charge  of  Southport,  passed  after  this 
year  into  another  part  of  the  work,  and  has  made  an  hon- 
orable record  in  the  Rock  River  Conference. 

Delavan  makes  its  first  appearance  this  year  in  our  Min- 
utes; not,  however,  as  an  independent  pastoral  charge,  but 
in  connection  wuth  Elkhorn ;  and  yet  but  one  preacher — 
G.  W.  Cotrell — is  appointed  to  the  circuit. 

Mequon  also  was  set  off  this  year  as  a  separate  charge, 
with  that  immense  worker,  Jesse  Halstead,  as  pastor.  Last 
year  it  formed  a  part  of  Menominee  Mission,  and  yet  that 
circuit  demanded  the  labors  of  two  men.  J.  Lecenby 
was  the  Conference  appointee,  and  one  was  to  be  sup- 
plied. 

Beloit,  with  Joseph  Lewis  pastor,  takes  its  place  this 
year  in  the  list,  and  has  remained  one  of  our  permanent 
and  important  appointments.  It  is  impossible  to  give  the 
date  of  the  first  Methodist  sermon,  or  the  first  sermon 
preached  by  any  one  at  this  place.  The  following  extract 
of  a  letter  from  Thos.  McElhenny  gives  several  impor- 
tant facts  in  a  small  space:  "  I  left  Milwaukee,  September 
28th,  and  arrived  at  Beloit,  October  1,  1838,  but  found  no 
Church  organization  of  any  kind.  Rev.  Mr.  Adams,  a 
Presbyterian  or  Congregational  minister,  living  at  Rock- 
ton,  and  Albert  Fuller,  a  local  preacher,  living  at  Ros- 
coe,  preached  occasionally.  Geo.  Lovesee,  Sr.,  who  had 
been  licensed  by  Adam  Clarke,  the  Commentator,  would 
give  us  a  talk  sometimes;  he  also  lived  at  Roscoe. 
I  attended  a  quarterly  meeting  at  Roscoe,  and  the  presid- 
ing elder.  Rev.  John  Clark,  said  we  should  have  preaching 
regularly.  Rev.  Nathan  .Jewett  preached  the  first  regular 
circuit  sermon  on  December  2,  1838,  in  the  evening,  in 
Caleb  Blodgett's  kitchen.     That  was  the  regular  preaching- 


ANNALS  OF  IS46.  99 

place  until  the  school-house  was  built.  The  first  class  -was 
formed  on  Thursday  evening,  December  27,  1838,  in  Tyler 
Blodgett's  shanty,  on  Broad  Street,  east  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  It  consisted  of  five  members,  viz.:  Horace 
Barkley  (leader),  Mrs.  Holland  Moore  (the  mother  of  Pres- 
dent  W.  B.  Strong,  of  the  Atchison,  Topeka  and  Santa 
Fee  Railroad),  and  her  sister.  Miss  Lucena  Cheney  (now 
Mrs.  Dearborn),  Tyler  K.  Blodgett,  and  Thos.  McEl- 
henny."  It  was  taken  into  Sycamore  Circuit,  of  which 
Rev.  L.  S.  Walker  was  in  charge,  and  by  whom  Rev.  A. 
D.  Field,  in  his  "memorials,"  says  the  society  was  formed. 
But  Mr.  McElhenny  says  it  was  formed  by  "Father 
Lovesee,"  though  he  says  Jewett  and  Walker  alternated  in 
serving  the  place — the  former  being  stationed  at  Rockford  ; 
whence  it  is  evident  that,  by  some  understanding  between 
Walker  and  Lovesee,  the  latter  ofliciated  in  forming  the 
class.  This  organization  was  the  first  of  a  religious  char- 
acter in  Beloit,  antedating  the  Congregational  Church  just 
three  days. 

In  this  first  year  of  Beloit  as  a  separate  pastoral  charge, 
the  society  commenced  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice. 
The  members  were  few  and  poor,  but  they  pushed  the  en- 
terprise with  vigor  and  much  real  sacrifice.  Stephen  Adams, 
a  local  preacher,  "  sold  his  last  cow  to  buy  lime  that  the 
walls  might  go  up."     All  did  nobly. 

At  the  close  of  this  year  one  of  our  most  energetic  and 
succesful  pioneers — John  Crummer — retired  from  the  active 
field,  and  counted  one  in  a  list  of  twenty  superannuates. 
He  had  been  in  connection  with  the  Conference  since  1836, 
and  had  done  grand  service  for  the  Master.  Four  also  re- 
tired by  location,  viz.:  J.  Hurlburt,  Alpha  Warren,  J.  B. 
Gallup,  and  G.  W.  Cotrell.  The  first  two  had  rendered 
each  seven  years'  service;  the  third,  five;  the  last,  two. 

The  year  was  one  of  considerable  success,  as  appears 
from  a  reported  increase  of  767. 


100  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 


1847. 

The  work  had  so  expanded  that  a  new  district  was  this 
year  added  in  Wisconsin — four  in  all. 

H.  Summers  continued  on  Platteville,  and  Wm.  H, 
Sampson  on  substantially  the  same  ground  as  before,  the 
name  being  changed  to  Fond  du  Lac  District. 

Elihu  Springer  succeeded  S.  H.  Stocking  on  ^Milwaukee 
District;  and  Chauncey  Hobart,  a  new  man  among  us, 
was  placed  in  charge  of  the  newly  formed  Racine  District. 

Twenty  new  men  appear  in  the  list,  some  of  whom  be- 
came distinguished,  but  none  reached  the  eminence  of  the 
last  one  named.  He  commenced  his  itinerant  ministry  in 
1836  in  Illinois  Conference,  and  had  become  distinguished 
as  a  safe  administrator  and  able  defender  of  Christianity. 
In  Quincy  he  successfully  exposed  the  abominations  of 
Mormonism,  which  was  making  inroads  there.  While  he 
was  attentive  to  all  the  interests  of  the  Church,  he  was 
also  adapted  to  special  occasions.  He  was  therefore  selected 
in  1845,  at  Jacksonville,  to  address  a  large  meeting  of  citi- 
zens in  commemoration  of  Ex-President  Jackson,  recently 
deceased;  and  at  Chicago,  in  1847,  to  preach  to  an  im- 
mense gathering  in  connection  with  a  "  National  River  and 
Harbor  Convention." 

Some  changes  in  the  pastoral  charges  may  be  briefly 
noted. 

Lancaster  and  Potosi,  in  the  Platteville  District,  re- 
ceived two  preachers  instead  of  one  as  last  year.  These 
were  F.  Smith  and  Jesse  Pardun. 

Franklin  was  the  name  of  a  new  circuit,  taken  prob- 
ably from  adjoining  ones. 

A  new  mission  was  established  among  the  Welsh,  but 
left  to  be  supplied,  and  little  is  known  of  its  success  tliis 
year. 


ANNALS  OF  1S47.  101 

I.  M.  Leihy  completed  his  full  two  years'  term  at 
Mineral  Point,  and  left  the  charge  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

Black  River  is  the  name  of  another  new  work,  and  in- 
troduces us  to  a  wild  region  and  rough  inhabitants. 

In  the  winter  of  1848  there  was  a  consultation  among 
some  of  the  lumbermen  along  the  river  as  to  obtaining  a 
preacher.  They  appointed  a  committee  to  circulate  a  sub- 
scription and  find  the  preacher.  Each  subscriber  was  to 
designate  his  choice  as  to  the  religious  denomination  to 
which  the  preacher  should  belong,  and  a  very  large  major- 
ity were  found  to  be  in  favor  of  securing  a  Methodist. 
Probably  religious  conviction  had  little  to  do  in  the  mat- 
ter, as  the  chairman  is  said  to  have  been  a  skeptic,  and  the 
others  perhaps  scarcely  knew  what  they  were  in  this  re- 
spect. Besides,  the  reason  they  assigned  for  their  choice 
was  that  they  thought  there  "was  more  go-aheadativeness 
about  Methodist  preachers  than  any  others." 

A  petition  was  accordingly  sent  to  Rev.  H.  Summers, 
presiding  elder  on  Platteville  District,  and  at  the  following 
Conference  the  mission  was  formed,  and  R.  R.  Wood  ap- 
pointed thereto.  This  was  the  entrance  to  a  field  now 
swarming  with  inhabitants  and  bristling  with  church-spires. 

As  already  stated  Gr^en  Bay  District  takes  the  name 
of  Fond  du  Lac  this  year.  Watertowu  and  Aztalan  were 
transferred  to  Milwaukee  District,  and  Whitewater  to  the 
newly  formed. Racine  District. 

Two  new  circuits  were  added  ;  viz. ,  Columbus  and  May- 
ville. 

Nearly  all  the  preachers  were  changed.  This  was  no 
uncommon  thing  in  those  days.  J.  S.  Prescott,  at  Sheboy- 
gan, and  Stephen  Jones,  at  Lowell,  were  the  only  ones 
that  remained  the  second  year.  The  former  was  re-enforceed 
with  S.  R.  Thorp  as  a  colleague.  The  appointment  at 
Mayville  proved  an  unfortunate  one.  The  others  seemed 
to  be  attended  with  considerable  success. 


102  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Presiding  Elder  Sampson  says  that  H.  R.  Colraan  "did 
good  service"  at  Fond  du  Lac;  that  though  the  work  was 
laborious  on  Green  Lake  Circuit,  C.  G.  Lathrop  "  had  a 
good  year"  there  ;  and,  in  short,  he  bears  a  good  testimony 
for  his  fellow-workers  generally. 

At  Brothertown,  H.  Requa  succeeded  in  the  erection  of 
a  framed  church  edifice,  in  place  of  a  log  building  previously 
used  as  a  place  of  public  worship.  This  and  those  at  Green 
Bay  and  Oneida  were  the  only  ones  in  the  entire  district 
at  the  close  of  this  year.  Nor  were  there  many  of  any 
other  denomination.  The  Presbyterians  had  one  at  Green 
Bay,  and  one  at  Stockbridge,  the  Episcopalians  one  at 
Green  Bay  and  another  at  Oneida  Mission.  The  Congre- 
gationalists  built  one  about  this  time  at  Whitewater  that 
had,  previous  to  this  year,  been  within  Elder  Sampson's 
district.  The  era  of  church-building  had  not  arrived.  The 
people  were  poor,  and  could  only  with  difficulty  build 
houses  for  themselves. 

Mr.  Sampson's  work  during  his  term  of  four  years  was 
a  success  in  more  ways  than  one.  In  the  spring  of  1846 
he  received  a  letter  from  H.  Eugene  Eastman,  of  Green 
Bay,  informing  him  that  a  gentleman  in  the  East,  of  whom 
he  was  the  authorized  agent,  proposed  to  give  ten  thou- 
sand dollars,  on  certain  conditions,  for  the  founding  of  a 
literary  institution  of  high  grade,  and  proflfering  the  op- 
portunity to  the  Methodist  Church  as  the  one  most  likely, 
in  his  judgment,  to  make  the  enterprise  a  success.  The 
conditions  were  that  a  like  sum  should  be  raised  by  other 
parties,  and  that  the  school  should  be  located  at  some 
point  between  the  outlet  of  Lake  Winnebago  and  the  head 
of  Green  Bay.  Mr.  Sampson  presented  the  proposition 
to  the  Conference  at  its  next  session.  It  was  favorably 
received,  and  he  was  requested  to  reduce  the  matter  to 
definite  and  legal  form.  The  gentleman  making  the  offer 
proved  to  be  Hon.  A.   A.   Lawrence,  of  Boston.     In  due 


ANNALS  OF  1847.  103 

time  the  conditions  were  met,  and  the  institution  was 
called  Lawrence  Institute,  being  located  in  a  dense  forest 
where  now  stands  the  beautiful  city  of  Appleton. 

Milwaukee  District  was  put  in  charge  of  Elihu  Springer, 
as  already  stated,  and  important  changes  made  in  its 
boundaries.  Nine  circuits  were  taken  from  it  to  help 
form  Racine  District,  to  compensate  for  which,  Madison 
and  Sauk  Prairie  (changed  in  name  this  year  to  Prairie 
du  Sauk)  were  taken  from  Platteville  District,  and  Water- 
town  and  Aztalan  from  Fond  du  Lac  District. 

Prairieville  Circuit  had  enjoyed  an  extensive  revival 
the  preceding  year,  under  the  labors  of  W.  Wilcox  and 
J.  M.  Walker.  They  reported  an  increase  of  128  mem- 
bers— about  forty  per  cent.  The  work  having  become  so 
extensive,  it  was  divided,  at  the  Conference  of  1847,  into 
three  pastoral  charges;  viz.,  Waukesha,  Oconomowoc,  and 
Palmyra. 

Mequon   was  changed  in  name   to  Grafton,  embracing 
about  the  same  territory  as  before 

Milwaukee  was  supplied  by  another  transfer — F.  M. 
Mills,  from  Baltimore  Conference.  He  had  a  well-bal- 
anced and  well-stored  mind ;  his  sermons  were  thoroughly 
evangelical,  and  very  instructive ;  he  was  cautious,  safe, 
and  commanded  general  respect.  But  his  physical  energies 
were  feeble,  and  his  manner  a  striking  contrast  to  that  of 
his  predecessor,  so  that  he  stood  at  disadvantage  with  those 
who  especially  admired  the  rush  and  storm  of  the  former. 
Those  of  his  style  may  not  bring  as  many  souls  to  God 
as  some  others,  but  may  edify  the  Church  in  righteousness 
quite  as  extensively,  or  more  so.  At  the  close  of  this 
year  he  was  compelled  to  retire  from  the  active  work,  and, 
after  a  time,  returned  to  his  old  Conference. 

Geo.  Lovesee  also  passed  from  our  territory  after  this 
year,  falling  into  Rock  River  Conference   at  the  division 


104  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

that  will  be  noted  in   due  time,  and   did  good   work  for 
years  in  connection  with  that  body. 

Chauncey  Hobart,  who  first  appears  this  year  on  our 
soil,  and  in  charge  of  Racine  District,  will  be  heard  of 
hereafter.  Few  men  among  us  ever  obtained  a  more  en- 
viable distinction.  His  district  extended  from  Lake  Mich- 
igan to  the  western  boundary  of  Rock  County,  being  com- 
posed of  twelve  pastoral  charges,  nine,  as  already  stated, 
being  taken  from  Milwaukee  District,  viz.:  Racine,  South- 
port,  Sylvania,  Rochester,  Geneva,  Elkhorn,  Troy,  Janes- 
ville,  and  Big  Foot.  Beloit  was  taken  from  Mount  Morris 
District,  and  Whitewater  from  Fond  du  Lac.  To  these 
was  added  Union  Circuit,  newly  formed  from  territory 
taken    apparently   from  Janesville  and  Madison  Circuits. 

A.  Hanson,  who  had  done  very  successful  work  in 
Milwaukee  two  years  before,  as  a  supply,  had  become  con- 
nected with  the  Conference,  and  had  served  Galena  the 
previous  year,  now  appears  in  the  list  of  appointments  as 
pastor  at  Southport. 

It  is  remarkable  that  of  the  one  hundred  and  seventeen 
that  had  been  in  our  lists  of  appointments  previous  to 
this  year,  not  one  had  reached  the  end  of  his  pilgrimage. 
Some  of  these,  it  is  true,  had  been  on  the  ground  but  one 
year;  but  others  had  been  here  several  years.  A  careful 
investigation  shows  that  more  than  three  hundred  and  fifty 
years  of  ministerial  service  had  been  performed  in  Wiscon- 
sin before  a  death  occurred  among  the  ministers.  C.  D. 
Gaboon,  who  had  spent  one  year  among  us,  was  called 
to  his  reward  soon  after  leaving  our  bounds;  and,  so  far 
as  is  known,  he  was  the  only  one  of  the  hundred  and 
seventeen.  But  during  the  Conference  year  commencing 
August  11,  1847,  death  invaded  our  ranks,  and  bore  away 
two — Geo.  Whitman  and  Joseph  Lewis. 


Mr.   G.   H.   foster. 


Mr.    EDWIN   HYDE. 


Rev.  R.  W.  BOSWORTH,  D.  D.  Rev.   JOSEPH  ANDERSON. 


Part  II, 


HISTORY  OF  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

CHAPTER  I. 
1848-9. 

THE  RockEiver  Conference,  at  its  session  in  1847,  took 
measures  for  the  division  of  its  territory  by  the  forma- 
tion of  a  separate  Conference  in  Wisconsin.  The  General 
Conference  in  the  May  following  sanctioned  this  proceeding, 
and  constituted  the  Wisconsin  Conference,  which  embraced 
the  entire  State.  For  twelve  years  this  domain  had  an  or- 
ganized Territory.  On  the  29th  of  May,  1848,  it  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  Union  as  a  State.  So  its  birth,  as  such, 
was  almost  simultaneous  with  that  of  our  Conference. 

This  newly  formed  body  held  its  first  session  in  South- 
port  (now  Kenosha),  commencing  July  12,  1848.  Bishop 
Morris  presided,  and  on  the  Sabbath  preached  to  a  large 
concourse  in  a  grove  or  park  of  that  rising  city.  The 
bishop  was  a  remarkable  man.  Measured  by  the  standard 
of  those  who  deem  bluster  and  dash  evidences  of  superiority, 
he  surely  would  not  be  called  great,  for  he  was  the  far- 
thest possible  from  these.  His  sermons  were  short,  earnest, 
evangelical,  simple  in  construction,  terse  in  style,  and  full 
of  thought.  A  word  added  to  or  taken  from  almost  any 
one  of  his  sentences  would  have  marred  its  beauty,  and 
detracted  from  its  force.     In  short,  few  men  could  pack 

9 


106  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

as  much  bacon  in  a  small  knapsack  as  he.    He  was  elected 
to  the  episcopacy  in  1836. 

Presuming  that  many  would  feel  an  interest  in  reading 
the  appointments  of  this  first  session  of  our  Conference 
who  have  not  access  to  them,  they  are  here  given : 

Platteville  District — Henry  Summers,  Presiding  Elder. 

Platteville—1.  M.  Leihy. 

Lancaster  and  Potosi — Francis  Smith,  R.  E.  Thomas. 

Hazel  Green — I.  Searls,  J.  W.  Putnam. 

Hamilton  Grove — Jesse  Pardun. 

Mineral  Point — J.  G.  Whitfoid. 

Dodgeville — David  Brooks. 

Franklin — -Asa  Wood. 

Monroe — A.  P.  Allen. 

Prairie  du  Chien  Mission — Wm.  Tasker, 

Black  River  Mission— R.  R.  AVood. 

St.  Croix  J/ifs?on— Benjamin  Close. 

Welsh  Mission — To  be  supplied. 

Eik  Grove— B.  L.  Thomas. 

Fond   du  Lac    District — Washington  Wilcox,  Presiding 

Elder. 
Fond  du  Lac — H.  R.  Col  man. 
Sheboygan — Stephen  Jones,  H.  Leet. 
Manitowac — To  be  supplied. 
Green  Bay  Mission — S.  R.  Thorp. 
Oneida.  Indian  Mission — S.  W.  Ford. 
Brothertown  Indian  Mission — D.  Lewis. 
Winnebago  3Iission — A.  B.  Randall. 

Green  Lake  Mission — C.  G.  Lathrop ;  one  to  be  supplied. 
Waupun—J.  S.  Prescott ;  one  to  be  supplied. 
Columbus — G.  N.  Hanson;  one  to  be  supplied. 
Centerville  Mission — Samuel  M.  Stone. 
Portage — To  be  supplied. 
Loivell — Henry  Requa;  one  to  be  supplied. 
Mayville  Mission — C.  Smith,  W.   H.  Sampson,  Principal  of 

Preparatory  Department  of  Lawrence  Institute. 

Milwaukee  District— Elihu  Springer,  Presiding  Elder. 
Milwaukee — J.  E.  Willson. 
Walker's  Point — Warner  Oliver. 


ANNALS  OF  181,8.  107 

Root  River — Jesse  Halstead ;  one  to  be  supplied. 

drafton—J.  W.  AVood.     . 

West  Bend  Mission — A.  C.  Pennock. 

Wauivatosa — H.  V.  Train,  Richard  Sl)ane. 

Waukesha — Wesson  G.  Miller. 

Oconomoivoc  Mission — S.  W.  Martin. 

Watertovm  Mission — John  Bean. 

Aztalan — Wm.  Willard. 

Palmyra  Mission — H.  W.  Frink. 

Madison  Mission — John  Penman. 

Albion  Mission — Edrick  Holmes. 

Pleasant   Valley  Mission — C.  G.  Adams. 

Prairie  du  Sauk  Mission — J.  Williams. 

Racine  District — C.  Hobart,  Presiding  Elder. 

Racine — Mathew  Bennett. 

Southport — A,  Hanson. 

Sylvania — R.  J.  Harve}',  C.  R.  Foster. 

Rochester — W.  M.  Osborn. 

Geneva — To  be  supplied. 

Elkhom—R.  W.  Barnes. 

Troy — J.  M.  Snow. 

Delavan  and  South  Grove — R.  P.  Lawton,  S.   H.   Stocking 

Sup. 
Whitewater — Leonard  Dickins. 
Rock  Prairie — J.  M.  Walker. 
Janesville — Wesley  Lattin. 
Union — C.  McClure,  H.  Hersey. 
Spring   Valley — John  Luckock. 
Beloit—VAi  C.  Jones. 
Exeter — To  be  supplied. 
Geo.  Lovesey  transferred  to  Rock  River  Conference. 

The  reader  will  note  that  the  Conference  starts  in 
active  work  with  four  presiding  elders'  districts,  fifty-seven 
pastoral  charges,  and  one  institution  of  learning,  manned 
by  sixty-two  preachers ;  and  provision  made  to  employ  ten 
more.  We  find  also,  in  the  Minutes,  one  supernumerary 
preacher  and  three  superannuates.  The  entire  member- 
ship, including  probatiouersand  local  preachers,  was  6,943 — • 
more  than  twice   the   number   constituting  the   Christian 


108  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Church  at  the  close  of  the  Great  Pentecost.  The  latter 
force  was  to  subjugate  the  world  to  Christ,  the  former  to 
aid  iu  extending  his  reign  in  Wisconsin.  The  following 
pages  will  give  a  partial  view  of  their  success. 

Ten  new  men  appeared  in  the  Minutes,  seven  of  whom 
were  admitted  at  this  Conference.  Seven  new  pastoral 
charges  also  appear — "  new"  in  name  rather  than  in  terri- 
tory, though  some  new  ground  was  occupied. 

Walker's  Point  was  the  Fifth  Ward  of  Milwaukee,  on 
the  south  side  of  Menominee  River. 

West  Bend  and  Wauwatosa  were  substantially  Menom- 
inee Mission  of  the  previous  year,  now  demanding  the 
labors  of  three  preachers,  instead  of  one  as  then. 

Albion  had  probably  formed  a  part  of  Madison  Circuit ; 
and  Pleasant  Valley,  of  Aztalan,  and  perhaps  is  nearly 
identical  with  Summit  of  1846. 

Elk  Grove  seems  to  have  been  mostly  included  in 
Hamilton  Grove,  and  Spring  Valley  in  Union. 

Exeter  and  Rock  Prairie  Missions  probably  covered 
much  new  ground.  J.  M.  Walker,  long  and  favorably 
known  to  us  since  then,  was  in  charge  of  the  latter.  In 
the  western  part  of  his  circuit  was  a  village  of  about  two 
hundred  inhabitants,  called  Indian  Ford.  Here  was  "a 
small  class,"  but  it  could  enjoy  the  preacher's  services  only 
once  in  every  two  weeks.  A  few  miles  west  was  another  vil- 
lage called  Catfish,  of  about  the  same  size  and  natural  ele- 
ments of  growth.  Of  course  they  were  rivals.  "In  order 
to  attract  settlers  and  build  up  their  town,  the  Catfish 
people  employed  a  Universalist  minister  to  reside  among 
them  and  preach  every  Sabbath.  During  the  winter  of 
1848-9  nearly  the  entire  population  of  the  town  of  Indian 
Ford  was  converted.  This  event  completely  revolutionized 
the  character  of  the  place.  Immigrants  came  pouring  in, 
business  became  brisk,  a  church  edifice  was  erected,  a  good 
school  was  established,  and  the  population  more  than  doubled." 


ANNALS  OF  IS4S.  109 

The  results  of  the  agencies  in  the  two  places  being  so 
entirely  opposite  that  the  Catfish  people  seemed  to  awake 
to  the  idea  that  "  godliness  is  profitable  unto  all  things," 
and  moved,  perhaps,  by  no  higher  motive  than  worldly 
gain,  discussed  the  matter  among  themselves,  and  appointed 
a  committee  to  wait  on  Rev.  C.  Hobart,  the  presiding 
elder  of  the  district,  and  "request  him  to  send  them  a 
gospel  minister."  The  request  was  honored,  and  the  place 
put  in  charge  of  the  preacher  on  Union  Circuit.  Surely 
"their  rock  is  not  as  our  Rock,  our  enemies  themselves 
being  judges." 

W.  H.  Sampson  was  nominally  principal  of  the  Law- 
rence Institute,  but  as  there  was  no  building  yet  in  which 
to  open  it,  he  w^as  to  act  as  agent  till  one  should  be  erected. 
To  this  work  he  applied  himself  diligently. 

About  this  time  the  excitement  over  the  discovery  of 
gold  in  California  began  to  prevail.  It  arose  to  a  fever- 
heat  in  some  instances,  and  "carried  off"  a  considerable 
number  of  our  people.  Rev.  Warner  Oliver,  the  pastor 
at  AValker's  Point,  was  either  so  affected  by  it,  or  so  desir- 
ous to  care  for  its  victims,  that  he  left  his  charge  and  went 
to  the  Pacific  Coast.  This  was  the  second  year  of  his  con- 
nection ■with  Wisconsin.  His  subsequent  history  can  not 
be  given  here. 

Many  of  the  pastoral  charges  had  become  very  much 
contracted  by  the  formation  of  new  ones  from  their  terri- 
tory. A  few  had  lost  their  names  in  the  same  way.  But 
the  membership  had  greatly  increased.  For  example,  the 
ground  covered  by  Iowa  Circuit  at  its  formation  in  1834, 
from  which  were  reported  80  members  at  the  close  of  that 
year,  had  now  become  six  separate  charges  with  1,311 
members.  Aztalan,  formed  from  new  ground  in  1837, 
had  growninto  eleven  charges  with  an  aggregate  member- 
ship of  1,317.  Well  has  this  been  called  "  the  mother  of 
circuits." 


no  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Benj.  Close  was  appointed  to  St.  Croix,  and  at  some 
time  during  the  year  he  organized  a  class  at  St.  Paul,  which 
then  meant  only  a  place  where  the  French  Catholics  had 
a  log  church  known  by  that  name.  Here,  also,  a  rude 
building  was  erected  on  the  lot  donated  the  year  before, 
and  our  people  worshiped  in  it  for  a  while,  but  for  some 
reason  the  lot  reverted  to  the  donor.  In  that  building 
Henry  Summers,  presiding  elder  of  Platteville  District, 
held  the  first  quarterly  meeting  on  Minnesota  soil,  in 
May,  1849. 

In  Milwaukee  our  cause  was  growing  in  importance. 
The  church  edifice  mentioned  in  the  annals  of  1843  had 
been  completed,  and  a  new  pastoral  charge  had  been  de- 
veloped in  the  south  part  of  the  city,  known  as  Walker's 
Point. 

Indeed,  a  general  advance  seems  to  have  been  made 
during  this  first  year  of  our  existence  as  a  Confer- 
ence, though  Mineral  Point  and  Platteville — two  very  im- 
portant charges  in  the  mines — suffered  severely  by  seces- 
sions. 

J[n  these  churches  was  a  large  number  of  Englishmen. 
Some  of  these  found  it  difficult  to  conform  to  American 
customs,  especially  to  the  manner  of  singing  in  the  public 
congregation.  For  lack,  perhaps,  of  mutual  forbearance 
and  concession,  this  dissatisfaction  culminated  in  a  secession 
of  about  one  hundred  members  in  each  place,  who  found  a 
more  congenial  home  in  the  Primitive  Methodist  Church. 
Notwithstanding  this,  the  reports  from  the  entire  Confer- 
ence show  an  aggregate  membership  of  6,942.  This  makes 
the  apparent  increase  1,436.  But  as  Big  Foot  Circuit, 
with  294  members,  was  transferred  by  the  division  to  Kock 
River  Conference,  the  real  gain  was  1,711.  This  was  an 
unusually  large  increase. 

Our  benevolences  were  fewer  in  number  than  now. 
The  reports  show  only  three,  viz.:  Missionary  Society,  $517  ; 


ANNALS  OF  1849.  HI 

American  Bible  Society,  $119;  Conference  claimants,  $92. 
Many  object — and,  perhaps,  with  good  reason — to  calling 
the  latter  a  benevolence. 

As  briefly  stated  in  the  annals  of  last  year,  George 
Whitman  and  Joseph  Lewis  had  passed  from  labor  to 
rest.  The  former  had  done  good  work  for  five  years,  and 
on  the  22d  of  October,  1847,  soon  after  he  reached  his 
last  appointment,  he  met  his  last  foe;  but  "his  triumph 
was  complete." 

Joseph  Lewis's  labors  on  Fond  du  Lac  and  Sheboygan 
Circuits  have  already  been  noticed.  He  was  appointed  to 
Beloit  in  1846,  at  which  time  that  important  place  was 
made  a  separate  charge ;  reappointed  in  1847,  and  labored 
successfully  till  called  to  the  rest  of  the  faithful,  May 
22,  1848. 

1849. 

The  Conference  this  year  met  in  Platteville,  on  the 
26th  day  of  June,  Bishop  Janes  presiding.  W.  H.  Samp- 
son was  again  elected  secretary.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  this  is  the  second  session  of .  AVisconsin  Conference, 
and  also  that  the  Rock  River  Conference  held  its  second 
session  in  this  village  eight  years  before. 

Bishop  Janes,  elected  to  the  Episcopacy  in  1844,  was 
on  his  first  tour  in  w'hat  was  then  called  *'  the  West ; "  and, 
though  in  feeble  health,  he  endeared  himself  to  all  as  a 
judicious  administrator  and  an  "able  minister  of  the  New 
Testament." 

At  this  session  thirteen  were  admitted  on  trial,  nine 
into  full  connection,  and  three  by  transfer  from  other  Con- 
ferences, viz.:  Elmore  Yocum,  from  North  Ohio;  Philo  S. 
Bennett,  from  Black  River;  and  Orrin  F.  Comfort,  from 
Genesee.  The  first  named,  though  not  present  at  the 
Conference,  was  put  in  charge  of  Platteville  District ;  the 
second,  of  Platteville  Station  ;  and  the  last,  of  Geneva,  a 
place  rapidly  coming  into  prominence. 


112  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

John  Tibballs,  formerly  of  the  North  Ohio  Conference, 
was  readmitted  from  the  local  ranks. 

One  had  died — James  Ash,  a  decidedly  good  man,  and 
a  useful  member  of  the  Conference  since  1840.  He  had 
been  superannuated  four  years. 

H.  R.  Colman,  who  had  performed  many  years  of  val- 
uable service  (in  Troy  Conference  previous  to  1840,  and 
in  Wisconsin  since  that  time),  this  year  retired  to  superan- 
nuaticm,  and  A.  B.  Randall,  who  had  rendered  three  years* 
service,  was  returned  supernumerary. 

Isaac  Searls,  who  had  been  in  Wisconsin  two  years, 
was  superannuated,  but  soon  regained  his  health,  and  did 
active  service  for  several  years. 

The  eagle-eyed  bishop  had  evidently  been  vieiving  the 
ground  before  he  saw  it,  and  had  become  impressed  with 
the  importance  of  the  work  developing  in  the  Upper  Mis- 
sissippi region.  The  Indian  missions  there  had  not  been 
much  of  a  success  ;  but  white  settlers  were  rushing  thitlier, 
and  the  genius  of  our  itinerancy  required  that  they  be  met 
with  the  saving  influence  of  the  gospel.  Besides,  the  ele- 
ments of  physical  enlargement  there  augured  a  populous 
country  in  the  near  future. 

The  question,  "  Who  will  go  for  us?"  was  appropriate 
and  momentous.  For  some  days  this  question  remained 
unanswered.  At  length,  Chauncey  Hobart  responded, 
''Here  am  I;  send  me."  His  proffer  was  accepted,  the 
Minnesota  Mission  District  was  formed,  and  he  was  ap- 
pointed its  presiding  elder,  and   also   pastor  of  St.  Paul's. 

For  three  years  there  had  been  a  mission  at  St.  Croix, 
and  the  preachers  there  had  skirmished  along  the  line  of 
Minnesota.  But  now  it  was  determined  to  enter  the  cita- 
del, and  take  possession  of  the  land  made  ready  by  the 
labors  of  Hurlburt,  Putnam,  and  Close.  Yet  the  heroic 
leader  w^as  accompanied  with  only  four  men — Enos  Ste- 
vens, at  St.  Anthony's  Falls;  James  Harrington,  at  Still- 


ANNALS  OF  m.O.  113 

water;  and  Jesse  Pardim  and  Charles  Hill,  on  Bad  Axe 
and  Black  River  Mission.  The  last  named  charge  was  in 
Wisconsin.  Of  course  the  presiding  elder  confined  himself 
mainly  to  St.  Paul,  visiting, the  other,  points  when  neces- 
sary. Subsequent  events  showed  that  they  were, not  on 
the  ground  any  too  soon. 

E.  Yocum  succeeded  H.  Summers  on  Platteville  District, 
and  the  latter  followed  C.   Hobart  on  Racine  District. 

Milwaukee  and  Fond  du  Lac  Districts  remained  under 
the  same  supervision  as  the  previous  year. 

The  reader  has  already  seen  that  the  writer  of  these 
chronicles  was  this  year  a  new  man  in  Wisconsin.  He 
was  present  during  several  days  of  the  preceding  session 
of  the  Conference,  and  was  deeply  impressed  with  the 
earnest,  aggressive  spirit  of  its  members ;  nor  less  so 
with  the  importance  of  more  laborers  in  this  growing  field. 
The  Conference,  also  recognizing  the  same,  very  cordially 
invited  his  transfer.  These  concurrent  influences,  together 
with  a.  special  impulse  felt  several  weeks  before,  drawing 
him  hither,  which  he  has  ever  believed  was  of  the  Lord, 
produced  a  clear  conviction  that  this  was  the  place  where 
the  Master  had  the  most  need  of  him.  But  having  just 
received  an  appointment  in  his  own  Conference,  he  could 
not  come  till  the  close  of  that  year.  Providence  won- 
derfully opened  the  way  for  the  consummation  of  the 
plan,  and  on  the  fifth  day  of  June  he  started  for  what 
was  deemed  the  far  West,  and  arrived  in  Milwaukee  on 
the  15th,  via  the  Erie  Canal  and  the  "Lakes." 

This  second  session  of  Wisconsin  Conference  was  of 
unusual  length — commencing  on  the  27th  of  June  and 
closing  on  the  9th  of  July.  The  cause  of  this  was  the 
trial  of  two  of  the  members  on  charges  preferred  against 
each  other.  The  difliculty  seemed  to  have  largely  grown 
out  of  a  misunderstanding.  One  was  entirely  acquitted, 
the  other  slightly  censured. 


114  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

When  the  appointments  were  announced,  the  writer 
found  himself  in  charge  of  the  Church  there.  He  was 
not  dissatisfied,  though  he  had  already  come  several  hun- 
dred miles  to  reach  the  eastern  boundary  of  Wisconsin, 
and  Platteville  was  near  its  western  line.  It  was  one  of 
the  best  appointments  in  the  Conference  in  point  of  finan- 
cial and  numerical  strength  and  social  position  ;  yet,  as 
there  had  been  for  some  time  an  unfortunate  partisan 
spirit  prevailing,  it  was  not  deemed  a  very  desirable  place. 
Perhaps  it  was  on  this  account  that  a  stranger  in  the 
country  was  appointed  there. 

It  is  due  the  people  to  say  that  the  preacher  met  a  very 
cordial  reception  among  them,  and  a  hearty  co-operation. 
One  instance  is  deserving  of  special  notice.  At  the  First 
Quarterly  Conference,  when  he  reported  the  amount  of  his 
traveling  expenses  from  Milwaukee,  Rev.  Samuel  Mitchell 
arose  and  moved  that  they  allow  his  traveling  expenses 
from  his  former  charge  in  New  York.  The  preacher  ob- 
jected on  the  ground  that  he  did  not  think  he  had  any  just 
claim  to  traveling  expenses  outside  the  bounds  of  the  Con- 
ference. Mr.  Mitchell  replied:  "The  Conference  invited 
his  transfer,  and  it  is  only  fair  that  we  bear  the  expense  of 
the  entire  removal."  The  preacher,  seeing  the  Conference 
was  evidently  in  favor  of  the  motion,  arose  and  said,  half 
playfully:  "Brethren,  if  you  desire  to  pay  my  entire  ex- 
penses from  New  York,  allow  me  to  suggest  that  you  pay 
one  half  this  year  and  one  half  next.  I  am  told  that  you 
have  never  kept  a  preacher  but  one  year.  But  I  have 
moved  so  far  that  I  expect  to  stay  with  you  two  years." 
The  motion  was  modified  to  meet  the  suggestion,  which 
created  a  little  pleasantry,  and  was  adopted  unanimously. 
They  carried  out  their  agreement  to  the  letter,  that  year 
and  the  next. 

Such  co-operation  augured  well ;  an  extensive  revival 
soon  followed,  and  the  last  vestige  of  the  old  partisan  feud 


ANNALS  OF  1849.  115 

disappeared.  The  presiding  elder  proved  himself  the  man 
for  the  place,  as  he  has  for  every  place  to  which  he  has 
since  been  assigned. 

The  district  contained  four  new  charges,  viz.:  Patch 
Grove,  taken  from  Lancaster  and  Potosi  of  the  previous 
year ;  Council  Hill,  that  had  formed  a  part  of  Hazel  Green 
Circuit;  Exeter  Mission,  transferred  from  Racine  District; 
and  Wyoming  Valley,  which  seems  to  have  included  much 
of  the  territory  embraced  in  the  Helena  work,  dropped 
from  the  list  of  appointments  some  years  before. 

St.  Croix  INIission  was  included  in  the  Minnesota  Dis- 
trict under  another  name. 

Linden  makes  its  first  appearance  this  year  in  the 
Minutes,  not  as  a  separate  charge,  but  in  connection  with 
Dodgeville. 

The  year  proved  to  be  one  of  very  considerable  pros- 
perity throughout  the  district ;  there  was  an  increase  in  the 
membership  of  about  twenty-four  per  cent. 

In  Fond  du  Lac  District  there  was  a  general  change  of 
pastors — S.  W.  Ford,  at  Oneida,  being  the  only  one  that 
remained  in  his  former  field.  But  in  the  pastoral  charges 
there  was  but  little  change,  and  that  mostly  in  names. 

Monitowoc  was  dropped  out. 

Sheboygan  became  two — Sheboygan  and  Sheboygan 
Falls. 

Portage  of  last  year  is  now  Plover  Portage,  thus  show- 
ing its  location  in  Portage  County,  and  not  what  is  known 
as  Portage  City,  in  Columbia  County. 

Marcellon  is  anew  charge,  though  possibly  only  changed 
from  Centerville  of  the  previous  year. 

Beaver  Dam  and  Oshkosh,  now  two  very  important 
appointments,  come  to  the  front  this  year.  So  far  as  ap- 
pears, A.  P.  Allen  was  the  first  Methodist  preacher  in 
Beaver  Dam.  While  on  the  Waupun  Circuit,  in  1846-7, 
he  established  an  appointment  there,  and  formed  the  first 


116  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

class,  of  which  L.  H.  Marvin  was  leader.  The  exact  date 
is  UDkoowD.  E-eligious  services  were  first  held  in  a  car- 
penter-shop. At  some  time  during  the  Conference  year, 
just  indicated,  a  church  edifice,  26  by  40  feet,  was  com- 
menced and  slowly  carried  to  completion  through  a  series 
of  years.  Beaver  Dam  seems  to  have  formed  a  part  of 
Lowell  Circuit  next  year,  of  which  H.  Requa  had  charge. 

The  reader  can  trace  in  previous  pages  the  earlier  his- 
tory of  Oshkosh  from  a  point  in  Winnebago  Circuit  to  a 
separate  pastoral  charge. 

The  Legislature  had  changed  the  corporate  name  of 
Lawrence  Institute  to  Lawrence  University.  Whatever 
may  be  thought  now  of  the  propriety  of  giving  such  an  im- 
posing name  to  an  institution  yet  in  embryo,  it  showed  that 
its  friends  were  in  high  expectation  as  to  what  it  would  be. 
W.  H.  Sampson  was  again  appointed  principal  of  its  pre- 
paratory department.  On  the  twelfth  day  of  November 
this  department  was  opened  with  a  very  encouraging  num- 
ber of  students,  in  an  unfinished  building  in  the  cefiter  of 
the  block  next  north  of  the  Methodist  Church  property,  in 
the  city  of  Appleton.  His  associates  were  R.  O.  Kellogg 
and  Jas.  M.  Phinney,  professors,  and  Miss  Emeline  M. 
Crocker,  preceptress. 

The  pastoral  charges  of  Milwaukee  and  Racine  Dis- 
tricts underwent  but  few  changes.  In  the  former,  Adams, 
a  new  appointment,  was  a  part  of  Prairie  du  Sauk 
Mission  of  the  previous  year.  In  the  latter.  South 
Grove,  which  was  connected  with  Delavan,  becomes 
the  head  of  a  new  circuit.  Exeter  was  transferred  to 
Platteville  District.  Honey  Creek  is  another  name  for 
Rochester  of  last  year.  Eagleville  is  a  new  charge,  taken 
evidently  from  Palmyra  Circuit.  The  reader  will  readily  see 
that  as  the  country  becomes  populous,  the  boundaries  of  pas- 
toral charges  become  better  established.  The  presiding  elder 
on  this  district  was  reared  in  a  more  southern  latitude,  and  he 


ANNALS  OF  1849.  117 

found  some  customs  among  the  people  in  his  new  field — 
who  were  almost  entirely  from  Eastern  States — that  were 
not  at  first  very  agreeable  to  him.  He  was  a  thorough 
Methodist,  a  preacher  of  the  older  style,  strongly  attached 
to  the  usages  to  which  he  had  been  accustomed.  But  beino; 
a  man  of  good  common  sense,  as  well  as  piety,  he  so  man- 
aged as  to  avoid  unpleasant  friction. 

John  Penman,  stationed  at  Beloit,  left  his  work  in  the 
midst  of  the  year  for  the  land  of  gold,  and  his  place  was 
supplied  by  A.  P.  Allen,  removed  from  Elkhorn. 

Whitewater,  that  had  been  in  the  list  of  appointments 
for  several  years,  and  had  been  visited  by  Pioneer  Hal- 
stead  as  early  as  1837,  had  not  yet  come  into  much  prom- 
inence as  a  post  of  Zion.  It  is  diflScult  to  ascertain  just 
when  or  by  whom  the  first  class  was  organized  there.  The 
first  church  edifice  was  commenced  under  the  administra- 
tion of  L.  Dickens,  the  previous  year.  Jas.  Harrington,  who 
enters  the  itinerant  ranks  this  year,  was  then  a  local  preacher 
in  that  charge.  It  is  said  he  went  into  the  woods,  cut, 
hewed,  and  hauled  the  timber,  and  did  most  of  the  work 
with  his  own  hands — all  without  cost  to  the  society. 

James  Ash  had  passed  on  to  his  final  home.  He  was 
received  on  trial  in  1840,  and  did  effective  service  for  four 
years,  when  he  was  returned  superannuated,  in  which  re- 
lation he  continued  until  his  death.  He  was  a  man  of 
marked  piety.  Of  him  it  is  said:  "Religion  was  his  con- 
stant theme  in  public  and  in  private.  It  was  the  atmos- 
phere he  breathed  and  the  element  in  which  he  lived." 

The  reports  of  the  year  show  a  total  membership,  in- 
cluding preachers,  of  7,295— increase,  277;  S89  collected 
for  Conference  Claimants,  $527  for  missions,  and  $334  for 
the  Bible  Society. 


118  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  II. 
1850-1. 

THE  Conference  this  year  met  iu  Beloit,  commeDcing 
July  3d.     Bishop  Hamline  presided,  and  J.  E.  Wilson 
v;as  elected  secretary. 

This  first  and  only  visit  of  the  bishop  was  hailed  with 
great  delight  by  the  preachers.  He  had  presided  at  the 
Rock  River  Conference  in  Galena,  in  1846,  so  that  he  was 
personally  known  to  the  older  members;  and  all  had  con- 
siderable knowledge  of  him.  How  could  it  be  otherwise? 
At  the  memorable  General  Conference  of  1844  he  proved 
himself  a  masterly  expositor  of  law,  civil  and  ecclesias- 
tical. In  the  case  of  Bishop  Andrew,  he  made  a  speech 
so  logical,  so  forceful,  so  convincing,  as  to  remove  all  doubt, 
from  the  minds  of  the  Northern  delegates  at  least,  as  to  the 
constitutionality  of  the  proposed  action.  This  turned  their 
minds  to  him  at  once  as  the  man  for  a  bishop.  After  the 
settlement  of  that  case  it  was  decided  to  elect  two  bishops. 
As  the  Southern  delegates  knew  they  could  not  elect  one 
of  their  own  number,  or  one  who  had  voted  in  favor  of 
Bishop  Andrew,  and  as  they  would  not  support  one  who 
had  voted  against  him,  they  sought  a  candidate  outside 
the  General  Conference.  The  result  was  the  election  of 
Leonidas  L.  Hamline  and  Edmund  Storer  Janes.  Both 
were  well  and  favorably  known  throughout  the  connection. 
The  former  had  been  editor  of  the  Ladies'  Repository  during 
the  preceding  quadrennium  ;  the  latter  had  been  for  sev- 
eral years  financial  secretary  of  the  American  Bible  Soci- 


ANNALS  OF  1850.  119 

ety.  We  bad,  the  year  before,  enjoyed  tbe  presidency  of 
the  latter ;  now  we  were  favored  with  that  of  tlie  former. 
We  were  pleased  with  both  ;  but  we  found  Bishop  Ham- 
line  so  rigid  in  the  enforcement  of  order  as  to  be  a  little 
annoying  to  some.  We  have  seldom  had  a  better  spirit- 
al  atmosphere  at  an  Annual  Conference  than  prevailed 
at  this. 

The  business  of  the  Conference  proceeded  -with  great 
dispatch. 

A  committee  was  appointed  on  ''Temperance  and  the 
Use  of  Tobacco,"  and  brought  in  a  very  sensible  report  on 
each.  By  its  adoption,  the  Conference  "heartily  ap- 
proved" a  stringent  liquor-law  recently  enacted  by  our 
State  Legislature,  and  pledged  all  proper  resistance  to  ef- 
forts for  its  repeal.  Moreover,  it  characterized  the  tobacco 
habit  as  sl  "wasteful  and  filthy  practice;"  and  pledged 
itself  to  "discountenance  its  use  in  any  form,  both  by 
precept  and  example."  In  following  years  the  Conference 
wrestled  with  these  gigantic  evils  even  more  vigorously. 

Beloit,  that  had  been  a  pastoral  charge  since  1846,  had 
become  a  point  of  considerable  importance.  The  breth- 
ren there  were  struggling  against  strong  competition. 

Several  persons  from  New  England  had  located  at  this 
point  some  years  before,  and  soon  proceeded  to  found  a 
college,  under  the  joint  patronage  of  the  Cougregationalists 
and  Presbyterians  of  Wisconsin  and  Northern  Illinois. 
This,  of  course,  drew  many  members  and  friends  of  those 
denominations  to  the  place,  and  gave  them  financial  and 
social,  as  well  as  numerical,  strength.  Thus,  Methodism 
was  placed  at  disadvantage.  Probably  many  new-comers, 
who  would  have  gravitated  to  us  under  equally  favorable 
circumstances,  were  attracted  by  the  larger  bodies  by  a 
sort  of  "  natural  law  in  the  spiritual  world." 

Yet  we  had  a  living  force  there.  A  neat,  commodious 
church  edifice  had    been   erected.      It  was  built  of  stone, 


120  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

with  a  basement  partly  above  ground.  It  was  begun 
in  the  Conference  year  1846-7,  and  the  auditorium  was 
ready  for  occupancy  the  year  following.  In  this  con- 
dition we  found  it  in  1850.  Great  economy  must  have 
been  used  in  its  construction  thus  far,  as  it  had  cost  only 
$4,300. 

Still,  over  it  hung  an  embarrassing  debt  of  about  one 
thousand  dollars  beyond  the  ability  of  the  society  to  raise. 
The  matter  was  brought  before  the  Conference  and  fully 
explained.  The  bishop  proposed  to  give  two  hundred  dol- 
lars towards  the  liquidation  of  the  debt,  and  the  members 
of  the  Conference  pledged  about  eight  hundred  dollars 
more,  thus  rescuing  the  church  from  impending  peril. 
The  pledges  generally  ran  from  two  to  ten  dollars  each. 
These  were  large  sums  for  the  preachers  in  those  days  to 
pay  from  their  scanty  receipts. 

Here  it  may  be  slated  that  the  charter  of  Lawrence 
University  required  the  annual  election  of  nine  visitors  from 
the  Conference,  who,  with  the  trustees,  should  constitute  a 
"Joint  Board,"  for  the  transaction  of  all  business  pertain- 
ing to  the  said  university.  The  visitors  appointed  at  the 
preceding  Conference  made  a  very  encouraging  report  at 
this.  Though  the  school  had  not  been  in  operation  a  year, 
and  was  literally  located  in  the  woods,  accessible  only  by 
bad  roads  that  can  hardly  be  conceived  of  by  many  of  my 
readers,  it  was  found  that  there  had  been  in  attendance 
105  students — the  highest  number  at  one  time  being  80. 
The  Committee  on  Education  gave  it  a  hearty  commenda- 
tion, and  the  Conference  as  heartily  pledged  co-operation 
in  promoting  its  interests. 

At  this  Conference  eighteen  were  admitted  on  trial, 
two  located — John  Tibballs  and  Wm.  Tasker;  Chas. 
McClure  gave  up  his  parchments,  but  retained  his  member- 
ship in  the  Church ;  Stephen  Jones  withdrew  from  the 
connection,  and  five  were  returned  as  superannuated  ;  three 


ANNALS  OF  IS 50.  121 

were  transferred  from  our  Conference — J.  E.  Willson,  who 
had  been  with  us  two  years,  doing  great  service  as  pastor  of 
Spring  Street  Church,  Milwaukee,  to  Missouri  Conference; 
Frank  Smith,  an  active,  useful,  growing  young  man,  to  Rock 
River  Conference,  where  he  rose  to  considerable  promi- 
nence, and  died  January  4,  1889,  having  performed  many 
years  of  successful  work.  J.  Luckock  was  also  transferred, 
but  to  what  Conference  is  not  stated.  He  became  a  member 
of  Rock  River  Conference,  but  subsequently  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Central  Illinois  Conference.  He  was  a  man 
of  considerable  ability,  especially  as  a  controversialist.  He 
passed  to  his  reward  several  years  since,  having  been  for 
some  time  on  the  retired  list.  J.  Penman,  mentioned  in 
the  annals  of  last  year,  was  deprived  of  his  ministerial 
standing  for  leaving  his  work  without  sufficient  cause.  In 
California  he  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South, 
but  afterwards  returned  to  this  country,  and  for  a  short 
time  was  connected  with  our  work  in  Minnesota.  Dr. 
Hobart,  the  historian  of  that  Conference,  summarizes  his 
career  thus:  ''This  man  left  behind  him  only  a  record  of 
dishonor  and  disloyalty." 

The  changes  above  narrated  left  the  Conference  with 
eighty  effective  men — sixteen  less  than  the  growing  work 
demanded.  But  our  well-adapted  economy  enabled  the 
presiding  elders  to  supply  these  vacancies. 

The  five  districts  were  in  charge  of  the  same  men  as 
the  year  before,  with  no  change  in  their  boundaries  except 
the  transfer  of  two  or  three  charges  to  Minnesota  Mission 
District.  Of  course  there  was  expansion  wherever  there 
w^as  opportunity. 

Minnesota  District  was  enlarged  so  that  it  took  in  not 
only  all  of  that  territory,  but  all  of  Wisconsin  west  and 
north  of  the  Wisconsin  River.  This  was  a  vast  region  of 
almost  unbroken  forest.  It  is  difficult  to  conceive  that  a 
country  teeming  with  inhabitants  and  dotted  with  villages 

10 


122  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

aud  cities,  Avas  so  reccDtly  the  undisturbed  haunt  of  >vild 
beasts. 

8ome  of  the  trips  of  the  presiding  elder  present  very- 
romantic  scenes.  Here  is  one:  On  his  first  round  he 
wished  to  pass  from  Baraboo  to  Eound  Prairie,  about  where 
Viroqua  now  stands.  To  reach  it  by  any  well-known  route 
would  cost  about  two  hundred  miles'  travel,  with  slow  and 
difficult  means  of  traveling.  So  far  as  he  could  learn  from 
a  study  of  the  map,  it  was  about  eighty  miles  directly  west ; 
but  between  him  and  it  there  was  a  continuous  and  dense 
forest.  He  proposed  to  try  this  route  if  tv/o  men  would 
join  him.  Six  volunteered.  It  was  Tuesday,  and  they 
wished  to  reach  their  destination  by  Friday,  as  the  elder 
had  a  camp-meeting  appointed  to  begin  there  that  day. 
Providing  themselves  with  provisions  for  three  and  a  half 
days,  they  plunged  into  the  wilderness,  with  no  guide  but 
the  "  king  of  day  "  and  a  pocket-compass.  They  journeyed 
on,  meandering  somewhat,  encountering  thunder-storms, 
and  sleeping  one  or  two  nights  where  the  bears  had  but  re- 
cently enjoyed  similar  repose,  until  their  provisions  were 
gone.  It  was  now  Saturday  morning,  and  yet  they  knew 
not  Avhere  they  were  with  respect  to  their  objective  point. 
Strangely,  game  seemed  scarce.  And  yet  hunger  was  ren- 
dering theirs  a  perfect  "  woodchuck  case."  But  instead  of 
this  animal,  they  succeeded  in  killing  a  porcupine.  It  was 
soon  flayed,  cut  into  seven  pieces,  roasted  on  the  ends 
of  as  many  long  sticks,  and  eaten  with  the  blessing  of  the 
Lord  invoked  upon  this  hastily  extemporized  meal. 
Strengthened  thereby,  they  journeyed  on,  and  reached  the 
camp-ground  early  Sabbath  morning,  weary,  but  grateful  for 
Providential  guidance.  Tlie  camp-meeting  was  very  suc- 
cessful, though  attended  by  but  few  ministers.  "About 
fifty  were  converted  and  added  to  the  Cliurch." 

In  Fond  du  Lac  District  there  was  much  enlargement — 
no  less  than  seven  new  pastoral   charges   appearing  in  the 


ANNALS  OF  ISoO.  123 

list.  These,  as  already  noted  ia  other  cases,  did  not  indi- 
cate entirely  new  ground.  Bijron  was  probably  included 
the  year  before  in  Fond  du  Lac  Circuit ;  Kingston  and  Dart- 
ford  in  Green  Lake  ;  Appleton  in  Oshkosh  ;  and  Green  Bash 
in  Sheboygan  Falls.  Metomen  and  Omro  seem  to  have  been 
formed  largely  from  new  territory;  and,  indeed,  much  of 
the  others  were  also.  Fall  River  probably  took  the  place 
in  name  of  Columbus. 

J.  M.  S.  Maxson,  just  received  on  trial,  was  appointed 
to  Omro  Mission,  but  there  was  no  organized  society  there. 
The  first  class  was  formed  the  following  winter  (1850-1), 
with  thirteen  members,  viz.:  M.  T.  Holcomb,  wife,  and 
two  children;  J.  W.  Craig  and  wife,  Elijah  Clark  and 
wife,  Chas.  Kogers  and  wife,  a  Miss  Dodge,  and  probably 
a  few  others  whose  names  the  writer  has  not  been  able  to 
obtain. 

Appleton  (or  the  place  where  it  now  is)  was  included 
in  the  Winnebago  Circuit  in  1848,  in  charge  of  A.  B. 
Randall.  As  yet  the  primeval  forest  there  and  in  all  that 
region  remained  intact.  On  the  eighth  day  of  September, 
1848,  W.  H.  Sampson  began  to  cut  the  trees,  and  prepare 
a  way  to  the  spot  Avhere  the  Preparatory  School-building 
was  to  be  erected.  On  the  8th  of  October  he  preached 
in  a  rude  shanty,  just  completed  by  J.  F.  Johnston,  which 
stood  on  the  north  side  of  College  Avenue,  between  Mor- 
rison and  Durkee  Streets.  This,  so  far  as  is  known,  was 
the  first  human  habitation  erected  by  a  white  man  within 
the  limits  of  the  present  city  of  Appleton. 

The  contemplated  school-building  was  erected  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  block,  bounded  by  the  same  streets  on  the  west 
and  east,  immediately  south  of  College  Avenue.  It  was 
afterwards  destroyed  by  fire. 

In  February,  1849,  A.  B.  Randall  formed  the  first 
class  in  the  place,  consisting  of  Robert  R.  Bateman,  leader; 
R.  S.  Bateman,  Mary  Bateman,  Amelia  Bateman,  Electa 


124  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Norton,  Theresa  Randall,  L.  L.  Randall,  and  J.  F.  John- 
ston. The  next  month  he  organized  a  Sabbath-school — R. 
R.  Bateman,  superintendent. 

At  the  Conference  of  1849,  Oshkosh  took  the  place  of 
Winnebago  as  the  name  of  the  charge,  with  Cornelius 
Smith,  pastor. 

In  1850  Appleton  was  detached,  and  became  the  head 
of  a  circuit,  embracing  Neenah  and  Menasha. 

The  ten  thousand  dollars  necessary  to  secure  the  like 
sum  from  Mr.  Lawrence,  had  not  yet  been  all  pledged, 
and  as  it  was  thought  no  one  would  be  as  likely  to  obtain  the 
needed  amount  as  W.  H.  Sampson,  he  was  appointed  agent 
of  the  institution. 

To  Milwaukee  District  were  added  five  new  pastoral 
charges  by  division  and  the  acquisition  of  new  territory. 
These  were  Oak  Creek,  taken  from  Root  River ;  Hartford, 
probably  included  last  year  in  Oconomowoc;  Bark  River, 
Sun  Prairie,  and  Nonvegian  3Iission.  Adams  and  Prairie 
du  Sauk  were  transferred  to  Minnesota  District. 

This  Norwegian  Mission  was  located  at  Cambria.  It 
was  the  first  mission  on  this  continent  established  by  our 
Church  for  the  special  benefit  of  Norwegians  and  Danes, 
and  was  this  year  supplied  by  C.  Willerup,  of  whom  and 
his  work  we  shall  have  good  reports  hereafter. 

The  special  changes  in  Racine  District  were  very  novel. 
Instead  of  expansion,  there  was  contraction.  Honey  Creek, 
East  Troy,  Eagle ville,  and  South  Grove  were  merged 
into  other  charges.  Milton  appears  as  the  head  of  a 
circuit,  known  the  previous  year  as  Rock  Prairie,  and 
Kenosha  is  now  the  name  of  the  place  formerly  called 
Southport. 

At  the  Conference  of  1850  a  plan  was  adopted  for  the 
publication  of  our  Annual  Minutes.  It  was  this:  Rev. 
A.  Brunson,  then  a  superannuate,  gave  his  dividend, 
Sb7.01,  as  a   nucleus   of  a  fund  for   this  purpose,  which 


ANNALS  OF  1S51.  125 

fund  should  be  kept  good  by  the  payment  at  each  Confer- 
ence thereafter  for  the  Minutes  taken  by  the  preachers. 
The  rest  of  the  sum  needed  was  made  up  by  different 
parties. 

The 'report  of  the  Sunday-school  Department  this  year 
was  as  follows:  Schools,  144;  officers  and  teachers,  1,132; 
scholars,  4,826;  volumes  in  library,  9,165;  Bible  classes, 
63;  scholars  in  infant  classes,  252  ;  conversions,  183  ;  for  ex- 
penses of  schools,  S620.04;  and  for  Sunday-school  Union, 
$42.71.  The  report  informs  us  that  a  decided  advance  was 
made  during  the  year — from  30  to  50  per  cent. 

The  number  of  church  edifices  was  36,  and  of  parson- 
ages 31.  For  further  account  of  these,  and  for  all  statistics 
in  following  years,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  appropriate 
appendices. 

1851. 

On  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  June  the  fourth  session  of 
the  Wisconsin  Conference  commenced.  It  was  held  in  a 
small  edifice  in  Waukesha,  the  first  one  erected  by  our 
people  there  for  a  house  of  worship.  W.  H.  Sampson  was 
elected  secretary. 

At  the  two  next  preceding  Conferences,  we  had  the  pres- 
idency of  Janes  and  Hamline,  respectively.  They  were 
elected  in  1844,  amid  the  partisan  excitement  over  the 
action  of  the  General  Conference  in  the  Hardin  and  An- 
drew cases.  Though  elected  on  different  issues  apparently, 
they  both  stood  on  the  same  platform  of  loyalty  to  the 
Church  in  its  antagonism  to  the  further  encroachment  of 
slavery. 

Beverley  Waugh,  elected  bishop  in  1836,  presided  at 
our  session  this  year.  He  was  rather  small  in  stature,  with 
a  piercing  eye  that  took  in  all  the  features  of  every  pass- 
ing scene.  This  greatly  aided  him  in  being  "  master  of 
the  situation." 

At   this   Conference  a  Committee   on  Slavery  was  ap- 


126  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

pointed.  In  due  time  they  made  a  report,  too  moderate  in 
tone  to  suit  the  writer,  on  whose  motion  the  committee  was 
appointed ;  but  as  no  test  of  sentiment  on  this  subject  had 
ever  come  before  the  Conference,  he,  and  others  of  his  views, 
would  gladly  have  voted  in  its  favor  if  it  had  been  acted 
on  at  once.  But  as  some  discussion  was  anticipated,  and 
as  some  other  business  was  just  then  pressing,  it  was  laid 
on  the  table,  with  the  express  understanding  that  it  should 
come  up  at  another  time  for  action.  But  a  fever  for  ad- 
journment set  in,  the  cars  were  soon  to  go,  and  in  the 
bustle  the  report  continued  to  slumber;  it  never  awoke. 
Though  it  can  not  here  be  reproduced,  it  is  safe  to  say  that 
it  was  probably  in  advance  of  any  expression  on  the  subject 
given  by  any  Annual  Conference  of  our  Church  west  of 
the  Alleghanirs. 

In  1841  the  Rock  River  Conference,  goaded  by  peti- 
tions from  the  laymen,  appointed  a  Committee  on  Slavery, 
but  responded  to  the  petitioners  thus : 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  inexpedient  for  this  Conference  to 
take  any  action  on  the  subject  of  slavery." 

This  item  of  information  is  given  in  "  Memorials  of 
Methodism  in  Rock  River  Conference,"  and  from  that  au- 
thority it  seems  that  the  Conference  adhered  to  that  resolu- 
tion till  1854. 

With  us  it  was  otherwise.  AVe  gave  the  question  no 
rest,  as  will  be  seen,  till  it  was  settled  by  the  utter  destruc- 
tion of  the  system  to  which  it  related. 

Other  subjects  of  interest  engaged  the  attention  of  the 
Conference  at  that  session  for  the  first  time,  as  the  Bethel 
work,  church  and  parsonage  building,  and  missionary  work 
among  the  Scandinavians. 

AVith  the  first  we  pledged  hearty  co-operation.  A  com- 
mittee appointed  on  the  second,  gave  some  information  and 
made  some  suggestions,  valuable  at  the  time,  all  of  which 
the  Conference  indorsed. 


ANNALS  OF  1S51.  127 

At  the  preceding  ConfereDce  a  Norwegian  Mission  had 
been  arranged  for  in  the  appointments,  and  left  to  be  sup- 
plied. The  head-quarters  of  this  mission  were  to  be  at 
Cambridge.  It  was  supplied  by  C.  Willerup,  a  Dane,  con- 
verted at  Savannah,  Georgia,  in  1844,  and  had  become 
connected  with  Genesee  Conference,  in  Western  New  York. 
As  the  Norwegian  and  Danish  languages  are  essentially  the 
same,  he  was  well  adapted  to  the  work.  When  he  went 
to  it,  few,  if  any,  there  had  experimental  knowledge  of 
"  the  way  of  salvation,"  if  of  the  theoi^  even.  Yet  many 
seemed  tired  of  the  lifeless  "form  of  godliness"  in  which 
they  had  been  reared,  and  as  they  began  to  learn  some- 
thing of  "  the  power  thereof,"  they  became  earnest  inquir- 
ers after  the  'Uruth  as  it  is  in  Jesus." 

Mr.  Willerup's  simple  narration  of  the  moral  attitude 
of  this  people  enthused  the  Conference,  and  steps  were 
taken  to  aid  in  erecting  a  church  edifice — the  first  Norwegian 
Methodist  house  of  ivorship  in  the  world.  So  extensive  was 
the  interest  awakened  in  that  field  that  three  additional 
laborers  were  demanded.  Just  then  Providence  favored  us 
with  one.  C.  P.  Agrelius,  a  Lutheran  minister,  late  from 
Sweden,  had  received  a  spiritual  baptism,  and  offered  him- 
self for  this  work.  He  was  accepted,  and  provision  made 
for  employing  two  more.  "So  mightily  grew  the  word  of 
God  and  prevailed."  More  will  be  heard  of  these  mission- 
aries, and  of  the  work  among  the  people  of  this  nationality. 

This  Conference  also  appointed  a  committee  to  consider 
the  question  of  a  "  Book  depository  and  weekly  paper  in 
the  northwestern  portion  of  our  Union."  An  able  report 
was  submitted,  in  which  the  need  of  these  was  set  forth  in 
a  forcible  light,  and  heartily  adopted.  It  recommended 
Chicago  as  the  place,  the  NoHhwestern  Christian  Advocate 
as  the  name  of  the  paper,  and  instructed  our  delegates 
elected  to  the  General  Conference  of  1852  to  use  their  in- 
fluence to  secure  these  results.     To  make  success  more  cer- 


128  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

tain,  the  Conference  instructed  the  secretary  to  furnish 
copies  of  the  report  to  the  bishop,  to  be  presented  to  the 
Rock  River  and  Iowa  Conferences  for  their  concurrence. 
It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add,  that  in  due  time  our  recom- 
mendations were. carried  into  effect,  almost  to  the  very  letter. 

The  Conference  this  year,  as  formerly,  showed  a  lively 
interest  in  our  rising  university.  The  Visiting  Committee 
reported  very  favorably  as  to  iis  doings  and  prospects.  The 
conditions  upon  which  Mr.  Lawrence  had  pledged  ten 
thousand  dollars  had  been  met,  and  a  "  man  of  experience, 
[as  a  teacher]  established  reputation,  and  commanding  in- 
fluence," had  been  elected  ''  president  of  the  faculty."  This 
was  Davis  W.  Clark  (afterwards  a  bishop  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church).  Among  the  considerations  to  induce 
him  to  accept  this  position  was  a  proffered  salary  of  six  hun- 
dred dollars  and  traveling  expenses  from  the  city  of  New 
York.  The  fact  that  he  declined  did  not  prove  that  the 
Board  was  too  lavish  in  the  use  of  funds.  "David  Brooks 
was  elected  traveling  agent." 

The  Conference  also  showed  itself  in  the  front  rank  of 
workers  in  the  temperance  reform,  pledging  themselves  to 
''preach  at  least  one  sermon  on  the  subject  of  temperance 
during  the  year  at  each  appointment  in  our  [their]  respec- 
tive charges." 

Another  measure  of  more  importance  than  may  appear 
to  some,  and  one  which  it  is  feared  has  been  too  little  re- 
garded, was  to  add  to  the  by-laws  of  this  Conference  the 
following,  viz.:  "Each  member  and  probationer  shall  pre- 
pare and  deposit  with  the  secretary,  to  be  put  in  the  ar- 
chives of  the  Conference,  a  sketch  of  his  life,  including  his 
birth,  date  and  place  of  his  conversion,  and  call  to  the  min- 
istry, and  the  dates  of  his  license,  ordination  (if  ordained) 
and  entering  the  itinerancy." 

The  Wisconsin  Conference  having  been  organized  since 
the  last  preceding  General  Conference,  this  was  the  first 


ANNALS  OF  1851.  129 

time  that  delegates  to  a  similar  body  could  be  elected  by 
us.  As  no  sharp  issues  were  pending  there  was  no  special 
agitation  over  the  matter.  We  were  entitled  to  three  dele- 
gates, and  three  good  men  were  honored  with  an  election,  viz.: 
Chauncey  Hobart,  Wm.  H.  Sampson,  and  Henry  Summers. 

As  to  the  appointments,  the  most  notable  feature  is  the 
formation  of  two  new  districts — Madison  and  Fox  River. 

Platteville,  Minnesota,  Racine,  and  Milwaukee  Districts 
retained  their  former  incumbents.  I.  M.  Leihy  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  latter  early  in  the  last  Conference  year,  to 
fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  the  lamented 
Springer.  W.  G.  Miller  was  appointed  to  Fond  du  Lac 
District,  and  W.  Wilcox  and  Boyd  Phelps,  respectively,  to 
the  two  first  named.  The  location  of  all  these  except  Fox 
River  will  be  pretty  well  known  by  their  names.  Perhaps 
Dartford  or  Waupun  would  have  been  a  more  appropriate 
name,  yet  it  extended  north  of  Fox  River  as  far  as  Wau- 
paca and  Plover. 

Twelve  new  charges  were  made,  several  of  them  by  the 
division  of  circuits.  Prairie  du  Sauk  was  transferred  from 
Minnesota  District  to  Madison,  and  divided  into  two — 
one  retaining  the  old  name,  the  other  called  Reedsburg. 
Adams  was  changed  to  Baraboo.  Thus  placed,  the  presid- 
ing elder  had  little  difiiculty  in  reaching  it ;  still  he  had  an 
occasional  opportunity  for  heroism  of  some  sort. 

On  one  of  his  trips  from  Prairie  du  Chien  to  Black 
River  he  killed  fourteen  rattlesnakes.  Some  may  take  this 
also  as  proof  of  the  specml  adaptation  of  Methodist  preachers. 
If  so,  well.  But  it  is  evident  that  he  and  his  fellow-helpers 
in  that  far  oif  battle-field  did  much  toward  bruising  the 
head  of  a  serpent  that  for  ages  had  been  destroying  the 
human  race. 

Extensive  revivals  attended  the  word  in  different  parts 
of  the  Conference  as  an  increase  of  1,950  communicants 
indicates. 

11 


130  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Fort  Winnebago  reappears  among  the  appointments, 
after  an  absence  of  several  years. 

De  Pere  had  been  included  in  Green  Bay  charge.  Now, 
and  henceforth,  it  becomes  a  separate  appointment,  except 
in  one  instance  (1862). 

There  was  a  large  advance  in  all  lines  of  Church  work. 

Early  in  this  Conference  year,  death  invaded  our  ranks, 
and  took  two  very  effective  workers. 

Elihu  Springer,  in  charge  of  Milwaukee  District  for 
the  last  three  years,  fell  a  victim  to  that  fearful  disease 
the  Asiatic  cholera,  on  the  22d  of  August,  1850,  in  Ocon- 
omowoc,  while  making  the  first  tour  of  his  district  for  that 
year.  He  began  his  itinerant  ministry  in  1833,  in  the  D- 
linois  Conference,  but  had  been  identified  with  the  work 
in  "Wisconsin  only  since  1845.  He  was  a  marked  charac- 
ter— a  man  of  great  firmness  and  clear  convictions.  When 
a  lad,  sixteen  years  old,  he  was  sent  away  to  an  academic 
institution,  in  which  he  was  the  only  professor  of  religion 
among  the  students.  He  says:  "I  was  taunted  with  be- 
ing a  Methodist,  hissed  down,  and  hooted  out  of  their  com- 
pany." This  was  a  severe  test  of  his  piety,  but  he  endured 
it  heroically.  It  probably  aided  in  developing  the  strong 
man,  the  talented  and  influential  preacher  that  he  was. 
On  the  day  of  Mr.  Springer's  death  he  dined  with  Kev. 
David  Brooks,  our  pastor  at  Watertown ;  and  in  less  than 
twelve  hours  both  he  and  Mrs.  Brooks  passed  to  their  final 
home  by  the  same  terrible  disease. 

James  Harrington,  a  probationer  of  the  second  year 
in  the  Conference,  succumbed  to  the  same  disease  just  the 
day  before  Mr.  Springer's  departure,  at  his  home  in  Still- 
water, Minnesota. 


ANNALS  OF  1852.  131 


CHAPTER  III. 
1852-3. 

AT  the  Sixteenth  General  Conference,  held  in  May, 
1852,  four  bishops  were  elected,  viz.:  Levi  8cott, 
Matthew  Simpson,  Osmon  C.  Baker,  and  Edward  R.  Ames. 
The  last  named  began  his  episcopal  work  as  president  of  the 
Wisconsin  Conference,  which  commenced  its  session  on  the 
second  day  of  September  next  following,  in  Fond  du  Lac ; 
Wm.  H.  Sampson  was  re-elected  secretary. 

At  this  Conference  fifteen  were  admitted  on  trial,  and 
all  but  two  of  the  twenty-three  admitted  the  year  before 
were  continued,  and  one  was  re-admitted  ;  one  had  died  very 
triumphantly — C.  G.  Connable,  a  promising  probationer  of 
the  second  year.  Six  located,  six  were  placed  on  the  list 
of  superannuates,  and  three  were  transferred  to  other 
Conferences.  This  left  but  a  slight  increase  of  effective 
paen. 

The  name  of  S.  C.  Thomas  appears  first  in  the  list  of 
appointments  this  year,  though  he  had  been  transferred 
since  our  last  session  from  Erie  Conference,  and  stationed 
at  Spring  Street  Church,  Milwaukee. 

General  harmony  prevailed  at  this  session,  though  a 
warm  discussion  occurred  over  the  report  on  slavery.  In 
view  of  the  way  action  on  this  subject  was  shut  off  at  the 
last  Conference,  the  writer  moved  for  the  appointment  of  a 
committee,  with  instructions  to  report  at  a  given  hour  on  a 
specified  day,  and  that  the  order  of  the  day  at  that  time 
should  be  the  consideration  of  said  report.  This  was  car- 
ried, with  but  feeble  opposition. 


132  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

The  committee  consisted  of  five,  of  which  O.  F.  Com- 
fort was  chairman.  At  the  appointed  time  he  brought  for- 
ward a  good  report,  signed  by  only  three  of  the  committee; 
the  other  two,  it  was  understood,  could  not  fully  indorse 
it,  though  they  did  not  present  a  minority  report.  On  the 
floor  it  was  assailed  by  two  or  three  influential  and  highly 
esteemed  brethren  of  more  conservative  views. 

Of  course  "the  irrepressible  conflict"  was  upon  us. 
Motions  to  amend,  so  as  to  modify  the  sentiments  expressed, 
were  made  and  advocated  with  great  earnestness,  and  op- 
posed with  as  great  earnestness,  if  not  with  equal  ability. 
The  effort  to  tone  down  the  report  was  partially  successful ; 
and  then  it  was  adopted  as  amended,  five  or  six  voting  in 
the  negative.  Thus  ended  a  bloodless  battle  with  a  deci- 
sive victory. 

The  report  is  too  lengthy  to  be  given  in  full,  but  the 
reader  is  furnished  with  enough  to  see  its  moral  tone : 

'*  Resolved,  1.  That  we  are  more  than  ever  convinced  of 
the  great  evil  of  American  slavery,  and  hereby  solemnly 
pledge  to  each  other  our  best  efforts  and  ardent  prayers 
for  its  total  abolishment." 

'^Resolved,  3.  That  in  the  judgment  of  the  Wisconsin 
Annual  Conference,  our  Discipline  should  be  so  modified  as 
to  prevent  the  future  admission  of  slaveholders  into  the 
Church,  und  require  those  members  now  holding  slaves  to 
set  them  at  liberty,  except  in  those  instances  in  which, 
owing  to  the  stringency  of  the  slave  laws,  it  may  be  found 
necessary  to  permit  the  legal  relation  to  exist  for  the  pro- 
tection and  support  of  the  slave." 

Among  other  things,  a  very  strong  protest  was  made 
against  the  Fugitive-slave  Law,  recently  enacted  by  Congress. 

These  utterances  may  seem  tame  now,  but  then  they 
were  quite  radical,  and  our  Conference  was  thenceforward 
known  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  on  this  subject. 

A  Committee  on  Temperance,  of  which  Dr.  A.  Branson 


ANNALS  OF  1852.  133 

was  chairman,  presented  a  strong  report,  which  was  adopted 
with  great  unanimity.  The  Pine-tree  State  had  enacted 
the  original  "  Maine  Law  "  a  few  months  before,  and  this 
report  fully  committed  the  Conference  thereto,  and  affirmed 
it  as  our  "duty,  as  well  as  our  right  and  privilege,  to  use 
our  influence,  both  in  and  out  of  the  pulpit,  to  procure  its 
enactment."  This  meant  more  than  simply  moral  suasion. 
The  report  boldly  advocated  the  use  of  the  ballot  in  this 
Avork,  **  irrespective  of  party  lines,"  and  called  on  "our 
people"  to  act  accordingly.  It  also  invited  "  the  clergy  of 
other  denominations,  and  all  friends  of  tsraperance,  re- 
ligion, and  good  morals,  to  unite  heartily,  firmly,  and  pru- 
dently in  this  humane  and  noble  effort." 

Thus  the  Conference  put  itself  boldly  on  record  more 
than  thirty-five  years  ago  in  favor  of  political  action  to  pro- 
cure the  enactment  of  a  law  totally  prohibiting  the  liquor 
traffic,  with  stringent  provisions  for  its  enforcement. 

It  is  probable  that  few  similar  bodies,  if  any,  of  our 
Church  or  any  other,  preceded  us  in  thus  indorsing  the 
best  prohibitory  liquor  law  ever  before  enacted  in  any  State 
of  our  great  Commonwealth.  And  we  have  never  receded 
from  our  position. 

Nor  was  this  all.  The  committee,  according  to  instruc- 
tion, considered  the  question  of  alcoholic  wine  at  the  sacra- 
ment of  the  Lord's  Supper.  The  report  gave  good  reasons 
for  its  disuse,  and  closed  thus:  "Your  committee  recom- 
mend and  earnestly  advise  brethren  to  procure  the  juice  of 
the  grape  in  the  purest  state  possible  for  sacramental  or 
medicinal  purposes,  regardless  of  expense  or  trouble." 

When  we  consider  the  facts  that  very  few  grapes  were 
then  raised  in  this  State,  and  that  means  of  transportation 
were  very  limited,  this  will  indicate  a  determination  to  make 
every  practicable  effort  to  give  our  people  "  the  fruit  of  the 
vine"  in  the  Eucharist  according  to  the  true  Scriptural  idea, 
instead  of  an  alcoholic  concoction  of  drugs  labeled  "wine." 


134  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

The  interests  of  our  rising  university  were  fully  set 
forth  in  the  reports  of  the  Visiting  Committee  and  of  the 
Committee  on  Education.  The  former  reported  the  elec- 
tion of  Rev.  E.  Cook,  of  Boston,  as  president. 

The  districts,  except  Minnesota,  remained  substantially 
the  same  as  last  year,  and  the  incumbents  the  same,  ex- 
cept that  Isaac  Searl  was  appointed  to  Madison  District, 
and  A.  P.  Allen  to  Racine. 

Very  little  change  occurred  in  pastoral  charges.  Fay- 
ette, in  Platteville  District,  Richland  City  and  Delton,  in 
Madison,  and  Noiih  Ward,  in  Fond  du  Lac,  appear  for  the 
first  time.  J.  S.  Prescott,  who  had  been  stationed  in  Fond 
du  Lac  the  previous  year,  was  a  man  of  great  energy,  and 
by  his  indomitable  zeal  he  had  succeeded  in  securing  the 
erection  of  two  church  edifices  in  that  growing  town. 
They  were  distant  from  each  other  about  a  mile  and  a 
half,  and  thus  accommodated  people  in  different  extremes 
of  the  city. 

A  few  years  before  we  read  of  a  ''  great  conflagration  "  in 
the  place,  by  which  "  the  court-house,  city  hall,  Methodist, 
Baptist,  Presbyterian,  Congregational,  and  Episcopal 
churches  were  all  consumed — in  the  district  school-house.'' 
At  the  period  under  consideration,  each  of  the  other 
Churches  above  named  was  represented  by  a  respectable 
house  of  worship. 

There  were  nine  other  churches  built  during  the  year, 
none  of  which  awakened  more  interest  than  the  one  in  the 
Norwegian  Mission,  at  Cambria.  It  will  ever  be  known  as 
the  first  Methodist  Church  in  the  world  for  the  special 
benefit  of  that  nationality,  and  probably  the  first  of  any 
Protestant  denomination,  except  the  Lutherans. 

The  late  General  Conference  had  attached  the  Indian 
Missions  at  the  head  of  Lake  Superior  and  Sandy  Lake 
to  our  territory,  and  they  were  placed  in  Minnesota  Dis- 
trict.    This  made  it  of  vast  extent.     Prairie  du  Chien,  its 


ANNALS  OF  185$,  135 

southernmost  appointment,  and  Sandy  Lake,  its  northern 
extremity,  were  distant  from  each  other  eight  hundred 
miles.  The  latter  was  four  hundred  miles  from  St.  Paul, 
the  residence  of  the  presiding  elder,  and  could  be  reached 
in  winter  only  by  dog-teams  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company, 
and  in  the  summer  by  ascending  the  Mississippi  in  a  canoe 
most  of  the  way.  Presiding  elders  now,  who  can  ride  in 
palace  cars  in  summer's  heat  and  winter's  cold,  can  prob- 
ably travel  ten  thousand  miles  with  less  fatigue  and  loss  of 
time  than  one  such  trip  involved. 

As  usual,  there  was  an  advance  in  all  the  lines  of 
Christian  work. 

The  General  Conference  of  1852  ordered  the  appoint- 
ment of  some  one  at  each  annual  conference  to  preach  a 
missionary  sermon  at  its  next  session.  C.  Hobart  was  ap- 
pointed to  perform  this  service  at  our  Conference  in  1853. 
The  reader  is  referred  to  Appendix  G  for  the  names  of  the 
appointees  in  the  years  following. 

1853. 

On  the  thirty-first  day  of  August,  1853,  the  Wisconsin 
Conference  assembled  in  Baraboo  for  its  sixth  annual  ses- 
sion. Bishop  Scott  presided,  and  S.  W.  Ford  was  elected 
secretary. 

Dr.  Scott  had  attended  one  or  two  of  our  sessions  as 
one  of  the  book  agents  of  the  New  York  Concern,  and 
endeared  himself  to  us  by  his  unaffected  urbanity  and 
great  kindness  of  heart.  On  this  account,  if  no  other,  he 
would  have  been  cordially  received.  But  he  now  came  to 
us  in  a  new  relation,  one  which,  in  itself,  inspired  respect. 
He  had  been  in  his  present  office  but  little  over  a  year,  as 
the  reader  has  seen.  He  left  us  with  the  profound  respect 
of  all. 

Baraboo  was  a  thriving  village  in  a  region  to  which  the 
tide  of  emigration  had  been  increasing  for  a  few  years.     A 


136  WICONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

class  was  formed  there,  February  5,  1842,  by  Thos.  M. 
Fullerton,  and  thus  made  a  part  of  the  Muscoda  Circuit. 
It  had  probably  been  connected  with  Prairie  du  Sauk  most 
of  the  time  thereafter  till  1849,  when  it  became  the  head 
of  a  circuit,  under  the  name  of  Adams,  which  name  it 
bore  for  two  years,  and  was  then  called  Baraboo.  Though 
so  young,  the  Conference  was  well  sustained  there.  It  is 
now  an  important  appointment  in  the  West  Wisconsin 
Conference.     That  body  has  held  several  sessions  there. 

During  this  Conference  a  camp-meeting  was  in  progress 
in  a  grove  near  by,  in  which  many  of  the  younger  ministers, 
whose  time  was  not  occupied  in  Conference  business,  labored 
with  profit  to  themselves  and  the  work.  The  savory  influ- 
ence of  the  meeting  was  felt  throughout  the  session. 

The  reports  of  the  Visiting  Committee  and  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Education,  showed  that  our  cherished  institu- 
tion, Lawrence  University,  was  in  a  very  prosperous  con- 
dition. Rev.  Edward  Cook,  A.  M.,  elected  president  the 
year  before,  had  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office. 
Rev.  D.  Brooks,  general  scholarship  agent,  had  sold  schol- 
arships to  the  amount  of  $10,000.  ''  H.  Requa,  who  spent 
a  few  months  as  Indian  scholarship  agent,  obtained  $2,900; 
and  J.  S.  Prescott,  foreign  agent,  had  secured  in  cash  and 
valuable  pledges  $17,300."  This  was  a  very  fine  showing; 
but,  alas!  it  never  showed  as  well  thereafter. 

The  report  of  the  Visiting  Committee  also  represented 
that  the  annual  exhibition  of  the  students  was  of  a  high 
order ;  that  the  president-elect  gave  a  fine  inaugural  ad- 
dress, and  was  duly  inducted  into  office ;  and  that  the  cor- 
ner-stone of  the  college  edifice  "  was  laid  by  Dr.  M.  C. 
Darling,  the  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  an 
appropriate  address  was  delivered  by  Rev.  Alfred  Brunson, 
accompanied  with  appropriate  religious  exercises," 

It  also  appeared  that  "the  mineralogical  cabinet  and 
apparatus  of  the  late  Professor  Buck,  of  Milwaukee,  con- 


ANNALS  OF  ISSS.  137 

sisting  of  astronomical,  philosophical,  and  chemical  instru- 
ments, had  been  procured,  in  exchange  for  lands  in  Wal- 
worth County."  This  was  deemed  a  very  fortunate  bargain ; 
but  time  changed  the  aspect  of  the  case  very  much. 

The  Committee  say  further :  "  In  addition  to  the  above, 
the  foreign  agent,  since  the  meeting  of  the  joint  board, 
has  obtained  82,200 ;  President  Cook  has  secured  a  library 
and  additional  apparatus  worth  about  $1,000  which,  when 
added  to  the  former  ones  on   hand,  with  the  cabinet  and 
apparatus  are  valued  at  S3.000,  making  the  whole  prop- 
erty of  the  university  worth  at  least  877,000       In  this 
sum    were  included   the   estimated   value  of  the   college 
grounds  and   of  building  material  on  hand.     It  seemed, 
therefore,  but  reasonable  that  they  should  say:       ^ever 
in  the  history  of  this  rising  institution  have  its  prospects 
been  so  flattering  as  at  present."     They  recommended   and 
the  Conference  concurred  in,  the  appointment  of  J.  b.  rres- 
cott  as  foreign  agent,  H.  Requa  as  Indian  scholarship,  and 
A  B  Randall  and  Asa  Wood  as  general  scholarship  agente. 
'  The  following  resolution,   adopted  by  the  Conference, 
shows  still  further  its  interest  in  the  cause  of  education : 

"  Re.iohed,  That  each  preacher  in  charge  of  a  circuit 
or  station,  shall  preach,  or  cause  to  be  preached,  at  least 
once  a  year,  a  sermon  on  education  at  each  principal  ap- 

pointment."  ^  •.      i. 

How  well  this  was  carried  into  effect,  the  writer  has 

no  means  of  knowing. 

Nor  was  this  all.  At  a  meeting  of  the  preachers  of 
Racine  District,  held  in  JanesviUe  a  few  months  before, 
the  question  of  establishing  an  academical  institution  in 
that  city  was  raised,  and,  after  a  free  discussion,  and  con- 
sultation with  prominent  laymen,  the  meeting  resolved, 
with  great  unanimity,  to  attempt  it. 

A  little  inquiry  revealed  the  fact  that  there  was  a  very 
suitable  building  almost  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  on  a  plat 


138  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

of  grouud  sufficiently  large — about  two  acres — that  could 
be  purchased  or  rented  at  a  very  reasonable  rate.  It  was 
a  stone  edifice,  two  stories  high,  built  for  school  pur- 
poses, and  could  have  been  purchased  for  the  small  sum 
of  $2,000. 

The  matter  was  left  in  the  hands  of  a  committee,  with 
considerable  discretionary  power.  They  rented  the  prop- 
erty, employed  a  Seventh-day  Baptist  as  principal,  and  the 
school  was  opened  in  the  fall  with  such  favorable  auspices 
as  to  induce  the  Conference  to  appoint  a  Board  of  Visitors. 
But  it  was  soon  found  that  the  principal,  though  represented 
as  "almost  a  Methodist,"  seemed  to  take  special  pains  to 
display  his  disregard  for  the  Christian  Sabbath.  The  school 
sank  into  disrepute,  and  was  soon  given  up. 

Thus  ended  ' '  the  Janesville  Wesleyan  Seminary,"  which, 
with  proper  management,  might  have  been  a  grand  success. 
In  reference  to  the  temperance  and  anti-slavery  ques- 
tions, the  Conference  maintained  its  high  position. 

The  last  State  Legislature  had  submitted  to  the  voters 
the  question  as  to  a  prohibitory  liquor  law,  and  it  was  to  be 
voted  on  at  the  approaching  election.  As  the  Conference 
at  its  last  session  had  taken  positive  ground  in  favor  of 
such  a  law,  and  had,  indeed,  led  other  ecclesiastical  bodies 
in  this  enterprise,  so  at  this  it  boldly  met  the  issue. 

An  extract  from  the  report  on  temperance,  which  was 
enthusiastically  adopted,  will  show  the  unflagging  deter- 
mination of  the  Conference.  After  an  unqualified  indorse- 
ment of  the  "Maine  Liquor  Law,"  they  "recommended 
that  all  the  members  of  this  Conference  whose  fields  of 
labor  may  be  in  Wisconsin  exert  their  influence  by  preach- 
ing or  by  lecturing  on  temperance,  and  by  all  other  appro- 
priate means  calculated  to  secure  a  prohibitory  law  ;  and 
we  do  hereby  solemnly  pledge  ourselves  as  a  Conference, 
and  publish  our  determination  to  the  world,  that  whatever 
may  be  the  other  qualifications  of  candidates  for  the  Leg- 


ANNALS  OF  1853.  139 

islature  of  the  State,  no  man  shall  have  our  support  who  shall 
either  neglect  or  refuse  to  give  perfect  satisfaction  that,  if 
elected,  he  will  both  vote  and  labor  for  a  prohibitory  en- 
actment that  will  be  creditable  to  our  State,  and  will  be 
adapted  to  suppress  the  great  evil  of  intemperance." 

This  was  nearly  forty  years  ago,  and  it  is  earnestly  com- 
mended to  those  who  now,  after  being  deceived  and  be- 
trayed by  politicians  over  and  over  again,  will  continue  to 
vote  in  the  same  line  for  fear  of  "  weakening  our  party." 

The  report  on  slavery  was  fully  up  to  that  of  the  pre- 
ceding year  in  moral  tone,  and  was  adopted  with  less  oppo- 
sition. The  first  and  fifth  resolutions  will  give  the  reader 
an  idea  of  its  general  character : 

''Resolved,  1.  That  slavery  is  contrary  to  the  laws  of 
God,  man,  and  nature;  hurtful  to  society,  contrary  to  the 
dictates  of  conscience  and  pure  religion,  and  the  doing  to 
others  what  we  would  not  they  should  do  to  us. 

''  Resolved,  5.  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  Wisconsin 
Annual  Conference  that  the  original  design  of  the  general 
rule  prohibiting  '  the  buying  and  selling  of  men,  women, 
and  children,  with  the  intention  to  enslave  them,' was  to  pre- 
vent all  traffic  in  human  beings  by  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  ^that  it  should  now  be  so 
interpreted  and  enforced." 

Our  Conference  has  the  honor  of  opening  fraternal  cor- 
respondence with  other  ecclesiastical  bodies,  which  dates 
from  this  year,  as  seen  by  the  following  resolutions,  unan- 
imously adopted  by  the  Conference  : 

''Resolved,  1.  That  a  delegate  be  appointed  by  this 
Conference  to  the  State  Convention  of  Presbyterian  and 
Congregational  Churches  in  Wisconsin,  to  tender  to  said 
body,  at  its  next  session,  our  fraternal  salutations,  with  a 
view  to  cultivate  more  extensively  feelings  of  reciprocity 
between  the  said  Convention  and  the  Wisconsin  Conference 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


140  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

"Resolved,  2.  That  Rev.  O.  F.  Comfort  be,  and  he  is 
hereby,  appoioted  said  delegate." 

Our  delegate  performed  his  duty  faithfully,  and  asked 
the  Convention  to  reciprocate,  which  they  did  by  appoint- 
ing one  to  bear  their  greetings  to  our  next  Conference. 
The  measure  thus  introduced  has  been  kept  up  with  con- 
siderable regularity  between  us  and  those  Churches,  in 
their  representative  character,  to  the  present  time.  "Be- 
hold, how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell 
together  in  unity,"  even  though  they  may  differ  on  some 
points. 

This  Conference  made  a  new  departure  in  Sabbath- 
school  work.  An  agent  was  appointed  "to  travel  as  ex- 
tensively as  possible  within  the  bounds  of  this  Conference, 
and  use  all  proper  and  practicable  means  within  his  power 
to  promote  the  interest  of  Sabbath-schools  within  our 
limits."  H.  W.  Frink,  one  of  our  earlier  pioneers,  was 
appointed  to  this  work,  and  he  was  also  to  associate  with 
it  the  interests  of  the  Tract  Society  of  our  Church. 

In  looking  over  the  general  work,  it  was  found  to  have 
greatly  increased,  especially  in  Minnesota  and  in  Northwest 
Wisconsin.  Immigration  was  rapidly  filling  those  re- 
gions, and  the  ubiquitous  itinerancy  must  thrust  its  men 
into  the  frontiers  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  case.  Ten 
new  pastoral  charges  were  formed  in  that  part  of  our  work. 
This  required  the  formation  of  a  new  district  also  ;  hence, 
Prairie  du  Ghien  District  came  this  year  into  existence, 
with  A.  Brunson,  presiding  elder. 

David  Brooks  was  placed  in  charge  of  Minnesota  Dis- 
trict, and  S.  C.  Thomas  of  Platteville. 

The  other  five  districts  retained  their  former  incum- 
bents. In  these  the  changes  of  pastoral  charges  were 
but  few. 

Beetown,  in  Platteville  District,  is  a  new  work,  and 
Montfort  is  another  name  for  Franklin. 


ANNALS  OF  1853,  141 

South  Bristol,  Hebron,  Monticello,  Berlin,  Montdlo,  and 
Jackson  Street,  Milwaukee,  appear  in  the  Minutes  for  the 
first  time.  The  latter  was  a  development  of  ''  City  Mis- 
sion," formed  the  year  before,  and  connected  with  Grove 
Street,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  J.  M.  S.  Maxson. 

Soon  after  the  last  Conference,  the  Universalist  Church 
that  stood  on  the  site  of  the  afterwards  ill-fated  Newhall 
House,  was  purchased  for  four  hundred  dollars  and  moved 
to  a  lot  on  Jackson  Street,  which  had  been  purchased  by 
Geo.  F.  Austin  and  Osmon  Bailey,  for  eleven  hundred 
dollars.  *'  When  fitted  up,  the  edifice  and  lot  cost  tw^o 
thousand  dollars,  and  was  dedicated  December  1,  1852,  by 
Rev.  A.  Hanson." 

Most  of  the  other  last  named  charges  also  were  formed 
from  territory  previously  occupied. 

Not  so  with  all  in  the  "  upper  country."  Take  one 
case :  At  this  Conference  Benton  County  Mission  was 
formed.  It  included  all  the  country  above  the  Falls  of  St. 
Anthony — a  tract  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles  in  length, 
and  in  the  entire  region  were  but  two  Methodists — Lucy 
Olmstead,  near  Fort  Ripley,  and  Mrs.  Becker,  near  Sauk 
Rapids.  To  this  mission,  Jas.  H.  White,  an  energetic,  ear- 
nest man,  was  appointed.  He  established  ten  "preaching 
places,"  some  of  which  are  important  points  now  in  the 
Minnesota  Conference.  With  the  exception  of  C.  Hobart, 
who  constituted  himself  a  scouting  paiiy  the  year  before, 
while  presiding  elder  on  St  Paul  District,  this  missionary 
was  the  first  voice  crying  in  that  wilderness,  "  Prepare  ye 
the  way  of  the  Lord !" 

A  serious  calamity  came  to  our  cause  this  year  in  Mil- 
waukee. On  the  night  of  January  14,  1854,  the  Spring 
Street  Church  edifice  was  consumed  by  fire.  During  the 
rest  of  the  year  the  Church  worshiped  in  Young's  Hall. 

At  this  Conference  22  were  received  on  trial,  19  were 
continued,  4  located,  3  probationers  were  discontinued  at 


142 


WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


their  own  request,  1  was  returned  supernum.erary,  5  super- 
annuated, 1  deposed,  and  114  appointed  to  active  work. 

There  were  112  pastoral  charges,  and  among  these  27 
places  to  be  supplied.  If  these  were  all  filled,  as  is  prob- 
able, the  entire  force  of  effective  preachers  was  141,  with 
a  total  membership  of  11,593.  An  increase  of  837  is  a 
good  indication  of  fidelity  and  success.  The  total  of  benevo- 
lent collections  were  $2,518. 

The  custom  of  giving  "quarterly"  or  *' love-feast 
tickets,"  introduced  by  Mr.  Wesley,  had  been  for  years 
going  into  neglect.  So  far  as  the  writer  can  determine,  this 
was  the  last  year  he  observed  it,  and  he  thinks  but  few  con- 
tinued it  to  that  time. 

As  it  is  probable  that  many  who  read  these  pages  never 
saw  one,  sl  facsimile  of  the  only  one  he  finds  among  the 
papers  of  his  departed  wife  is  here  given.  It  was  issued 
several  years  before  this,  as  the  reader  will  see. 


?.    ^..^e-fi'Pt-^-'if^, 


Member. 


METHODIST     EPISCOPAL     CHURCH, 
FOUNDED  A.  D.  1784. 

/«^    QUARTERLY   TICKET,    ^^fyy.    S.    \%  4 S . 

Christ  died  for  us,  that,  whether  we  wake  or  sleep,  w© 
should  live  together  with  him. — 1  Thess.  v,  10. 

In  assurance  of  hope,  we  to  Jesus  look  up, 

Till  his  banner  unfurl'd  in  the  air 
From  our  graves  we  shall  see,  and  crj'  out,  "  It  is  he  I" 

And  fly  up  to  acknowledge  him  there. 


MAJOR   E.   L.    PAINE 


ANNALS  OF  1854.  143 


CHAPTER  IV. 

1854-5. 

ON  the  thirtieth  day  of  August,  1854,  Bishop  Morris 
called  our  Conference  to  order,  in  Jauesville,  for  its 
seventh  annual  session.  It  will  be  remembered  that  he  or- 
ganized it,  and  presided  at  its  first  session  in  1848.  But 
the  present  Conference  was  almost  new  to  him.  It  had, 
during  the  six  years,  far  more  than  doubled  in  the  number 
both  of  preachers  and  pastoral  charges. 

W.  H.  Sampson  was  elected  secretary,  and  J.  C.  Dana 
assistant. 

The  business  of  the  Conference  proceeded  with  usual 
harmony  and  dispatch. 

Considerable  new  interest  was  awakened  in  the  educa- 
tional field,  and,  indeed,  in  our  temperance  and  anti-slav- 
ery work  as  well. 

The  Northwestern  University  had  been  projected  a  few 
years  before,  and  our  Conference  had  been  solicited  to  ap- 
point some  trustees  and  visitors,  to  meet  the  requirements 
of  the  charter,  and  thus  enable  its  friends  to  organize  and 
proceed  to  work  at  once.  Failing  to  comply  with  their 
request  would  compel  them  to  wait  until  their  charter  could 
be  changed  by  the  next  Legislature  of  Illinois.  Of  course 
we  cheerfully  granted  their  request.  But  now  they  ap- 
pear, by  a  representative,  at  this  Conference,  and  ask  the 
patronage  of  the  southern  portion  of  our  Conference  ter- 
ritory. This  was  not  contemplated  in  the  former  action  of 
our  Conference.  Dr.  Hinman,  the  president  elect  of  that 
institution,  urged  the  case  strongly;  and  Dr.  Cook  (as 
he  can    now   be   designated,  having    recently    been   hon- 


144  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

ored  with  the  doctorate)  as  vigorously  opposed  it.  With 
great  UDanimity,  the  Conference  refused  to  accede  to  their 
proposal.  It  expressed  the  utmost  good-will  toward  their 
enterprise ;  but  as  we  were  engaged  in  a  similar  one,  with 
far  less  favorable  prospects,  we  could  not  consent  to  allow 
them  to  send  an  agent  into  our  territory  to  canvass 
for  funds  or  students.  It  hardly  seemed  generous  for 
them  to  ask  it;  it  was  eminently  just  for  us  to  refuse. 
Indeed,  if  "  cheeky"  had  been  invented  before  that  occur- 
rence, some  one  might  have  hastily  used  it  in  this  case. 
The  Conference  appointed  no  more  trustees  or  visitors  to 
that  institution. 

Measures  had  been  taken  to  found  an  institution  at 
Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  with  encouraging  prospects,  to  be 
called  Hamline  University.  Bishop  Hamline  had  already 
donated  to  it  $25,000.  That  point  was  then  within  our 
boundaries,  but  it  was  not  expected  to  remain  so  long.  It 
seemed  an  eligible  site  for  such  an  institution.  It  was  on 
the  "  Father  of  Waters,"  and  that  vast  region  was  fast 
filling  up  with  enterprising  people.  The  Conference  gave 
it  a  hearty  indorsement.  The  subsequent  development  of 
the  country  in  ''regions  beyond"  seemed  to  demand  its 
removal  to  Minneapolis — that  city  of  marvelous  growth — 
where  for  several  years  it  has  been  in  successful  operation. 

A  communication  came  to  us  from  Ohio  setting  forth 
the  importance  of  a  college  for  colored  people,  to  which 
the  Conference  responded  very  cordially. 

Of  course  the  interests  of  Lawrence  University  were 
kept  in  view.  The  college-building  was  nearly  completed, 
the  collegiate  department  organized.  N.  E.  Cobleigh,  A. 
M.,  and  R.  Z.  Mason,  A.  M.,  had  been  elected  to  fill 
different  chairs.  H.  A.  Jones,  A.  M.,  was  elected  tutor. 
All  these  were  well  recommended  for  their  places.  The 
prospects  of  the  institution  were  still  very  flattering.  Pro- 
fessor R.  O.    Kellogg,    who    had  been  connected  with  it 


ANNALS  OF  1854. '  145 

almost  from  the  first,  resigned,  and  retired  from  its  halls. 
This  was  unfortunate  to  human  view.  No  man  was  ever 
connected  with  the  institution  in  its  entire  history,  before 
or  since,  who  exerted  a  more  salutary  influence  over  the 
students  than  he. 

Since  our  last  session  the  people  had  expressed  at  the 
polls  their  desire  for  a  prohibitory  liquor-law,  by  a  major- 
ity of  about  four  thousand.  The  Legislature  obeyed  their 
will,  and  enacted  one  essentially  the  same  as  the  famous 
"  Maine  Law."  W.  A.  Barstow,  the  governor,  vetoed  it, 
and  thus  thwarted  the  will  of  a  large  majority  of  the  peo- 
ple. Four  thousand  then  were  probably  equivalent  to 
ten  thousand  now. 

This  case  illustrates  the  wisdom  of  our  action  at  the 
last  Conference  in  pledging  ourselves  not  to  vote  for  any 
one  who  should  fail  to  give  entire  satisfaction  that  he 
would,  if  elected,  ''both  vote  and  labor  for  a  prohibitory 
enactment."  Mr.  Barstow  was  publicly  interrogated  on  the 
subject  before  the  election,  and  responded  in  a  way  that  led 
his  political  friends  who  favored  the  temperance  cause  to 
believe  he  would  give  his  official  sanction  to  such  an  act 
if  approved  by  the  people  at  the  polls.  But  his  answer 
was  that  of  a  wily  politician — ambiguous.  Of  course  the 
liquor  men  were  satisfied  with  it ;  they  knew  what  it  meant. 
True  to  his  artfully-concealed  intention,  when  the  bill  was 
presented  for  his  signature  he  killed  it  in  one  short  sen- 
tence— "It  is  unconstitutional" — without  assigning  a  soli- 
tary reason. 

O,  when  will  temperance  men  learn  not  to  trust  a  man 
that  occupies  an  equivocal  position  on  this  great  question ! 
Especially,  when  will  they  break  away  from  all  political 
parties  that  are  wedded  to  and  controlled  by  the  liquor- 
power  ? 

Notwithstanding  this  defeat,  the  Conference  showed  a 
determination  to  push  the  battle  till  victory  for  the  right 

12 


146  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

should  be  achieved.     This  was  evinced  in  a  short  but  strong 
report,  unanimously  adopted,  as  follows: 

"  The  Committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  subject  of  Tem- 
perance, respectfully  present  the  following  report : 

"  That  the  moral  and  political  position  of  the  Wisconsin 
Annual  Conference  having  been  clearly  defined  from  time  to 
time,  is  so  well  understood  that  your  Committee  deem  it  su- 
perfluous to  consume  time  -by  any  reference  to  the  past. 

'*  We  therefore  submit,  for  the  consideration  of  the  Con- 
ference, the  following  resolutions  : 

"1st.  That  from  the  observations  of  the  past  year,  we  are 
confirmed  in  the  conviction  that  the  only  eff'ectual  remedy 
against  this  gigantic  evil,  is  the  enactment  and  enforcement 
of  a  most  stringent  Prohibitory  Liquor  Law. 

''  2d.  That  in  order  to  secure  this  desirable  object,  we  mutu- 
ally pledge  ourselves  to  vote  for  such  men  only  as  are  avow- 
edly and  openly  in  favor  of  the  passage  of  such  law ;  and 
that  by  preaching  or  lecturing,  and  by  all  other  prudent 
means,  we  will  endeavor  to  secure  the  co-operation  of  all  the 
people  within  our  respective  fields  of  labor. 

"3d.  That  the  expressed  will  of  a  majority  of  more  than 
four  thousand  voters  on  November  last,  and  the  correspond- 
ing action  of  the  popular  branch  of  the  Legislature  in  favor 
of  a  Prohibitory  Law  in  this  State,  demand  our  sincere  grat- 
itude to  God,  and  should  inspire  the  friends  of  temperance 
with  new  courage,  and  prompt  to  increased  and  vigorous  ef- 
forts for  the  consummation  of  the  glorious  Temperance  Ref- 
ormation. O.  F.  Comfort,  Chairman." 

The  most  absorbing  subject,  aside  from  the  direct  work 
of  leading  souls  to  Christ,  was  that  of  slavery.  The  fail- 
ure of  the  General  Conference  of  1852  to  put  forth  an  ex- 
pression in  regard  to  it,  though  urged  by  that  well-bal- 
anced man  —  Calvin  Kingsley,  afterwards  bishop  —  and 
others,  had  probably  aroused  many,  and  intensified  more. 
Meanwhile  the  rising  tide  received  additional  force  from 
the  aggressive  action  of  the  slave  power  in  securing  the 
passage  of  a  law  in  defiance  of  the  "  Missouri  Compromise" 
of  1819,  by  which  slavery  might  be  extended  into  the  new 


ANNALS  OF  1854.  147 

Territories  of  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  and  thus  place  the 
Nation  more  completely  under  its  domination.  Meanwhile 
a  discussion  had  been  opened  in  our  newly  established 
paper,  the  Northwestern  Christicin  Advocate,  on  the  subject 
of  ridding  our  Church  from  a  complicity  with  this  "  sum 
of  all  villainies."  Its  editor,  J.  V.  Watson,  seemed  for 
some  time  rather  conservative,  yet  he  freely  admitted  ar- 
ticles on  both  sides.  Possibly  his  caution  led  to  the  best 
results. 

One  or  two  Conferences  had  proposed  substitutes  for  our 
General  Rule  on  Slavery,  but  they  were  not  satisfactory  to 
the  more  progressive.  From  no  quarter  did  the  clarion 
of  freedom — entire  freedom  of  the  Church  from  this  sin  and 
shame  of  the  Nation,  sound  out  in  clearer  notes  than 
from  within  our  borders.  "No  compromise!"  was  our 
watchword. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Slavery,  adopted  at 
this  session,  will  show  the  reader  the  position  of  the  Con- 
ference at  that  time.     It  is  here  given  entire : 

"The  Committee  on  Slavery  respectfully  report:  That 
while  we  deem  any  elaborate  discussion  of  this  subject  super- 
fluous, we  do  believe  it  incumbent  on  this  body  of  ministers  to 
express  clearly  and  unmistakably  their  views  of  its  character 
and  of  their  duty  in  regard  to  it. 

"  For  this  purpose  we  propose  for  adoption  the  following 
resolutions : 

'*  1st.  That  our  opposition  to  slavery  in  all  its  forms  was 
never  more  decided  and  uncompromising  than  at  present. 

"2d.  That  we  regard  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska  Bill,  passed 
by  our  National  Legislature  at  its  recent  session,  as  an  alarm- 
ing exhibition  of  the  slave  power,  surpassed  in  atrocity  only 
by  the  Fugitive-slave  Law  of  1850. 

"  3d.  That  we  deem  it  our  duty  as  ministers  of  the  gospel,  to 
preach  against  slavery  as  against  other  violations  of  religion 
and  humanity,  and  in  every  other  proper  way  to  labor  for  its 
removal  from  the  Church  and  the  world. 

"  4th.  That  we  affectionately  invite  our  people  to  co-operate 


148  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

with  us  by  their  prayers  and  in  the  use  of  the  elective  fran- 
chise to  effect  a  repeal  of  the  Fugitive-slave  Law,  to  prevent 
the  further  extension  of  slavery,  and  to  secure  its  final  extir- 
pation from  the  Nation. 

"  5th.  That  we  consider  it  highly  improper  for  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  to  extend  to  the  Church  South  such  saluta- 
tions as  imply  fraternal  relations. 

"  6th.  That  we  deem  it  altogether  inexpedient  for  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  to  appropriate  money  either  for  the 
support  or  maintenance  of  missions  in  slave  territory,  except 
on  a  basis  of  entire  freedom  from  slavery. 

"  7th.  That  while  we  believe  the  Troy  Conference  resolu- 
tion, submitted  to  this  Conference  for  concurrence,  is  well  in- 
tended, we  consider  it  inadequate  to  the  demands  of  the  case, 
and  therefore  we  do  not  concur  therein. 

'*8lh.  That  we  request  the  next  General  Conference  so  to 
alter  the  General  Rule  on  Slavery  as  to  read  as  follows :  The  buy- 
ing, selling,  or  holding  a  human  being  as  a  slave. 

"9th.  That  our  secretary  be  instructed  to  forward  to  each 
of  our  bishops  a  copy  of  the  last  resolution,  to  be  presented 
to  the  several  annual  Conferences  for  their  concurrence.  Re- 
spectfully submitted.  P.  S.  Bennett,  Chairman." 

This  new  rule  was  presented  to  all  the  Annual  Confer- 
ences for  concurrence,  but  did  not  receive  the  requisite 
three-fourths  majority.  It  will  receive  further  notice  in 
the  annals  of  next  year. 

In  reviewing  the  labors  of  the  year  just  passed,  we  see 
evidences  of  continued  progress.  To  meet  the  growing 
demands  of  the  work  37  were  received  on  trial,  25  were 
continued  on  trial  from  the  last  year,  and  10  were  received 
into  full  connection.  Nineteen  new  charges  were  developed, 
making  in  all  132,  demanding  the  labors  of  174  preachers. 
The  total  increase  of  communicants  was  1,716. 

H.  J.  Vanehoick,  a  probationer  of  much  promise, 
had  gone  to  his  heavenly  home. 

At  this  Conference  1  located,  3  were  discontinued  at 
their  request,  3  were  returned  supernumerary,  and  8  super- 
annuated.    The  places  left  to  be  supplied  were  about  the 


ANNALS  OF  1854.  149 

same  as  the  preceding  year,  so  the  new  recruits,  though 
many,  did  not  fill  all  the  vacancies. 

The  districts,  as  to  boundaries,  remained  about  as  the 
year  before,  and  all  retained  their  former  incumbents  ex- 
cept Milwaukee,  to  which  C.  Hobart  was  appointed,  to 
succeed  I.  M.  Leihy,  who  had  completed  his  full  term. 

But  the  pastoral  charges  had  continued  to  increase. 
The  Norwegian  Mission,  in  Milwaukee  District,  had  so  ex- 
panded as  to  demand  six  preachers.  A  new  one  had  been 
developed  in  Minnesota  requiring  two,  and  another  in  Fond 
du  Lac  District  that  needed  the  labors  of  at  least  one — 
three  missions  and  nine  missionaries.  The  last  one  named 
was  supplied  by  Edward  Peterson,  then  a  student  in  Law^- 
rence  University,  who  will  come  more  to  view  hereafter. 
A  new  Welsh  Mission  was  also  opened  in  Racine,  to  which 
Wm.  R.  Jones  was  appointed. 

A  new  church  edifice  was  reported  from  Manitowoc, 
and  six  from  other  places  noted  elsewhere. 

On  the  14th  of  January,  1854,  the  Spring  Street 
Church  edifice  in  Milwaukee  was  consumed  by  fire.  In  a 
directory  of  the  Grand  Avenue  Church — as  it  is  now  called, 
to  agree  with  the  altered  name  of  the  street — is  a  ' '  his- 
torical sketch"  which,  though  it  contains  no  false  state- 
ments, can  not  fail  to  make  an  erroneous  impression  as  to 
the  disposition  of  this  property  and  the  reinvestment  of  its 
avails.  After  speaking  of  its  destruction  by  fire,  the 
sketch  says:  ''The  lot  was  sold,  and  with  the  proceeds  the 
society  purchased  the  Congregational  church  on  the  corner 
of  Spring  and  Second  Streets,  thereby  incurring  a  debt  of 
$2,000."  This  conveys  the  idea  that  all  the  proceeds  were 
thus  used,  and  yet  that  they  were  iusuflScient  to  pay  for 
the  property  purc^hased.  The  essential  facts  are  as  follows  : 
There  was  a  debt  on  the  original  church  of  about  five 
thousand  dollars.  The  society  commenced  to  rebuild  some- 
what after  the  plan  of  that  edifice ;  i.  e. ,  with  stores  on  the 


150  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

ground-floor,  and  the  auditorium  over  them.  This  work 
was  going  on  when  the  writer  of  these  pages  was  appointed 
to  the  pastorate  of  that  Church  in  September,  1854. 

The  hall  in  which  the  society  had  worshiped  since  their 
disaster  seemed  to  him  so  unlike  a  sanctuary  that  he  in- 
duced the  trustees  to  seek  a  more  suitable  place.  Fortu- 
nately they  obtained  the  use  of  the  "Free  Congregational 
church,"  whose  location  has  already  been  described.  We 
were  tenants  at  will,  as  the  society  owning  it  were  unde- 
cided as  to  just  what  they  would  do  in  the  future.  They 
had  no  minister  then.  Soon  our  people  became  attached 
to  the  house.  It  was  a  plain  but  neat  brick  edifice,  that 
would  seat  about  as  many  as  the  old  church.  It  was  lighted 
with  gas,  and  the  acoustic  properties  of  the  auditorium 
were  very  fine.  It  soon  became  apparent  that  the  property 
was  for  sale,  and  the  pastor  employed  what  skill  he  had  to 
induce  the  trustees  to  purchase  it.  Meanwhile  they  had 
an  offer  for  the  old  church  property  of  $15,000. 

There  was  not  the  utmost  harmony  among  the  trustees. 
Some  were  in  favor  of  selling  the  property  and  uniting 
with  Jackson  Street  society,  and  building  a  very  large 
church.  Others  claimed  that  as  that  society  was  an  organ- 
ized body,  and  as  independent  of  the  Spring  Street  society 
as  any  in  the  Conference,  they  had  no  claim  to  its  funds. 
This  was  strictly  true.  Yet  as  some  of  the  trustees  desired 
to  join  the  Jackson  Street  society,  who  were  contemplating 
the  erection  of  a  new  church,  they  insisted  that  a  part  of 
the  fund,  at  least,  should  go  for  that  purpose.  They  were 
the  majority,  and  some  of  them  very  intent  on  their  plan. 
It  was  finally  decided  to  give  the  Jackson  Street  brethren 
$4,000,  and  apply  the  rest,  after  paying  the  indebtedness, 
to  the  purchase  of  the  Free  Congregational  church.  The 
pastor  had  never  been  in  so  difficult  a  position,  but  he  has 
reason  to  believe  that  he  had  some  influence  in  harmonizing 
the  discordant  elements. 


ANNALS  OF  1854.  151 

The  arrangement  was  carried  into  effect,  and  the  church 
was  purchased  for  $7,200.  After  using  all  that  fell  to 
the  Spring  Street  Church  by  the  agreement,  and  making 
necessary  repairs,  a  debt  remained,  as  stated  in  the 
''  sketch,"  of  $2,000.  But  the  lot  was  65  feet  on  Spring  . 
Street  and  120  on  Second  Street.  Soon  20  feet  on  Spring 
Street  were  sold  for  $2,000  ;  this  left  us  45  feet  front 
by  120  in  depth,  with  a  church  property  worth  nearly 
as  much  to  us  as  our  interest  in  the  old  one  before 
the  fire.  ' 

This  building  was  burned  on  the  4th  of  July,  1861.  A 
new  one  was  erected  on  its  site  at  a  cost  of  $9,500,  and 
sold  in  1869  for  $20,000.  Thus  the  lot  itself  (65x120  feet) 
brought  $5,300  more  than  the  entire  property  cost,  includ- 
ing the  last  named  edifice.  Now,  if  every  brick  were  re- 
moved, the  site  probably  could  not  be  purchased  for  less 
than  $100,000. 

The  writer's  only  apology  for  being  thus  minute  is  that 
DO  one  who  has  attempted  to  write  a  history  of  Method- 
ism in  Milwaukee  has  given  an  account  of  these  transac- 
tions and  simple  justice  requires  that  the  facts  should  be 
stated. 

It  is  due  the  Jackson  Street  brethren  to  say  that  not 
one  of  them,  so  far  as  is  known,  exerted  any  influence  to 
secure  the  $4,000 ;  but  they  accepted  it,  and  used  it  to  aid 
them  in  building  what  is  now  Summerfield  Church.  And  it 
is  noticeable  that  not  one  of  these  trustees  went  into  that 
new  enterprise.  One  moved  from  the  city ;  one  became  so 
mixed  up  with  worldly  follies  that  he  withdrew  from  the 
Church ;  one  united  his  religious  interests  with  another  de- 
nomination, and  one — Leverett  S.  Kellogg — '*'  an  Israelite 
indeed,  in  whom  was  no  guile " — was  called  to  a  better 
temple  than  earth  can  furnish.  His  (carpenter)  shop  had 
been  the  public  sanctuary  of  the  struggling  society.  He 
afterwards  built  the  first  and  second  church  edifices  already 


152  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

noticed.    He  lived  honored  by  all,  and  died  in  the  autumn 
of  1854,  lamented  by  all. 

1855. 

The  Wisconsin  Conference  convened  on  the  thirtieth 
day  of  x^ugust,  1855,  in  Racine,  for  its  eighth  annual  ses- 
sion. Bishop  Edmund  S.  Janes  was  its  presiding  officer, 
and  the  secretaries  of  last  year — W.  H.  Sampson  and  J.  C. 
Dana — were  re-elected. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  this  bishop  presided  at  our 
second  session,  which  was  a  long  and  tedious  one.  He 
was  then  in  feeble  health.  Now  he  is  more  robust,  though 
worn  with  excessive  labor  during  the  summer. 

It  is  rather  a  noticeable  coincidence  that  Bishop  Morris 
presided  at  our  first  and  seventh  sessions,  and  Bishop  Janes 
at  our  second  and  eighth — the  latter  immediately  following 
the  former  in  both  instances. 

In  the  main,  the  Conference  dispatched  its  usual  busi- 
ness quite  rapidly.  One  new  departure  marked  its  pro- 
ceedings, which  caused  some  delay.  For  some  time  there 
had  been  dissatisfaction  as  to  the  distribution  of  our  mis- 
sionary funds.  The  presiding  elders  were  always  the  com- 
mittee to  make  appropriations,  and  their  reports  were 
subject  to  but  one  modification  by  the  Conference,  viz., 
striking  a  proposed  mission  from  the  list.  It  was  thought 
by  many  that  the  Conference  ought  to  have  more  control 
over  this  matter.  For  this  purpose  the  Conference  ap- 
pointed a  Committee  on  Missions,  consisting  of  one  from 
each  district,  leaving  out  the  presiding  elders  entirely. 
This  experiment  proved  to  be  impracticable,  as  the  latter 
had  to  furnish  the  committee  information  as  the  basis  of 
intelligent  action.  Had  the  two  been  united,  i.  e.,  had 
the  committee  been  composed  of  the  presiding  elders  and 
one  from  each  district,  it  might  have  been  a  success. 

Our  missionary  funds  should  be   very  judiciously  ap- 


ANNALS  OF  1S53.  153 

propriated,  and  it  seems  eminently  proper  for  the  presiding 
elders  to  be  assisted  by  the  counsel  of  others  as  competent 
to  judge  as  themselves.  If  no  better  results  are  reached, 
better  satisfaction  will  probably  be  given  to  all  concerned.. 
The  reports  of  committees  this  year,  and  the  discussions 
on  them,  were  of  more  than  ordinary  interest.  They  may 
now  be  briefly  considered. 

The  report  on  Education  opens  a  wide  field  of  action 
in  this  line  of  work,  and  presents  a  very  encouraging 
view. 

Arrangements  having  been  made  by  the  Joint  Board, 
in  August,  1854,  for  the  organization  of  the  collegiate  de- 
partment of  Lawrence  University,  freshman  and  sopho- 
more classes  were  formed  at  the  beginning  of  the  fall  term. 
Hence  the  college  proper,  as  well  as  the  preparatory  de- 
partment, had  been  in  operation  for  a  year.  The  latter, 
be  it  remembered,  was  opened  on  the  12th  of  November, 
1849.  The  average  attendance  during  the  year  just 
closed  was  a  little  over  two  hundred.  This  was  remarka- 
ble, considering  the  poor  facilities  of  travel  in  those  days. 
A  donation  of  $10,000  from  the  estate  of  Samuel  Apple- 
ton,  of  Boston,  had  been  made  as  a  permanent  endowment 
fund  for  a  library,  the  interest  only  to  be  used.  This  has 
been  an  immense  benefit  to  the  institution,  and  its  career 
of  usefulness  will  go  on  perpetually.  The  Board  had  taken 
steps  for  the  endowment  of  a  chair  in  Hebrew  and  Biblical 
Literature,  which  the  Conference  heartily  indorsed.  But 
the  rapid  development  of  the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute, 
and  our  lack  of  funds,  rendered  it  unwise  to  push  this 
measure,  and  it  was  afterwards  abandoned. 

The  preparatory  department  of  Hamline  University, 
at  Bed  AVing,  Minnesota,  had  been  opened  with  very  flat- 
tering prospects ;  and  the  Conference  showed  its  continued 
good-will  towards  it  by  favoring  the  appointment  of  prin- 
cipal, agent,  and  trustees,  as  desired. 

13 


154  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Two  other  institutions  of  'learning  of  lower  grade 
sought  and  received  the  indorsement  of  the  Confer- 
ence. These  were  the  "  Evansville  Seminary"  and  the 
"Mineral  Point  Seminary,"  at  the  places  indicated  by 
their  names.     The  former  will  come  to  view  again. 

The  temperance  question  was,  as  now,  pushing  to  the 
front,  and  our  Conference  took  advancing  positions  against 
the  rum-power  throughout  the  contest.  Every  time  the 
sober  people  had  trusted  demagogues,  they  had  been  "  sold." 
It  may  be  well  now,  after  more  than  thirty  years  of  expe- 
rience, to  note  the  position  of  the  Conference,  and  the  na- 
ture of  the  fight  then,  that  we  may  compare  both  w^ith 
those  of  the  present. 

The  report,  which  was  unanimously  adopted,  after  re- 
hearsing some  achievements  of  moral  suasion  in  various 
forms,  takes  advanced  ground  thus:  "But  such  is  the 
weakness  and  depravity  of  human  nature,  that  no  measures 
have  been  found  adequate  to  suppress  the  great  evil  of  in- 
temperance so  long  as  the  traffic  in  intoxicating  drinks  is 
permitted  to  continue  in  our  midst."  In  this  fact  the  re- 
port finds  the  necessity  of  a  prohibitory  liquor  law,  and  then 
adds:  "No  sooner  have  the  friends  of  temperance  asked 
for  a  law  prohibiting  entirely  the  sale  of  intoxicating 
drinks,  and  making  such  sale,  like  every  other  moral  nui- 
sance, a  misdemeanor,  than  they  are  charged  with  having 
made  this  a  political  question.  This  issue  having  been 
forced  upon  us,  as  in  duty  bound,  we  accept  it ;  and  in  the 
name  of  our  God  we  set  up  our  banners  in  a  great  moral 
contest  with  the  artifice  and  avarice  of  designing  and 
wicked  men,  who  love  the  gain  of  ungodliness,  and  are 
contributing  their  influence,  their  efforts,  and  their  money 
to  corrupt  our  legislation,  to  purchase  vetoes  of  the  Maine 
Law,  and  to  reward  craven-hearted  lawyers  and  jurists, 
who  vainly  hope  to  acquire  or  retrieve  a  reputation  for 
legal  lore  by  declaring  prohibitory  laws  unconstitutional." 


ANNALS  OF  1855  155 

A  series  of  resolutions  follows,  the  first  of  which  is : 
"That,  as  a  body  of  Christian  ministers,  we  do  hereby 
renew  our  sacred  pledge,  and  republish  to  the  world  our 
solemn  declaration,  that  whatever  may  be  the  other  quali- 
fications of  candidates,  no  man  shall  have  our  suflTrages 
for  any  legislative,  executive,  or  judicial  office  in  the  gift 
of  the  sovereign  people,  who  is  not  known  to  be  openly 
consistently,  and  antecedently  in  favor  of  a  prohibitory  liquor 
law."  Here  is  no  uncertain  sound.  The  Conference  did 
not  shrink  from  political  action,  and  it  had  learned  that 
pledges  of  politicians,  not  ''antecedently  in  favor  of  a  pro- 
hibitory liquor  law,"  were  not  to  be  deemed  of  any  value. 
Nothing  has  been  more  clearly  demonstrated  by  history 
since  then.  How,  then,  can  any  conscientious  prohibitionist 
give  his  vote  for  such  a  man? 

The  greatest  interest  centered  in  the  slavery  question. 
The  convictions  of  the  preachers  and  people  respecting  this 
monster  sin,  and  the  absolute  importance  of  extirpating  it 
from  the  Nation,  and  especially  from  the  Church,  had  be- 
come greatly  intensified  by  the  general  agitation  of  the 
subject.  And  as  this  was  the  time  for  electing  delegates 
to  the  General  Conference  of  1856,  petitions  came  up  from 
the  laity,  entreating  us  to  select  such  men  "  as  delegates 
as  will  give  their  undivided  influence  in  favor  of  a  rule  or 
such  legislation  that  shall  fix  a  time,  not  far  distant,  when 
slavery  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  shall  forever 
cease."  These  were  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Slavery, 
already  appointed,  consisting  of  P.  S.  Bennett,  S.  L.  Brown, 
I.  M.  Stagg,  J.  B.  Mills,  and  J.  L.  Williams.  Their  re- 
port, too  lengthy  for  insertion  here,  was  fully  up  in  tone 
to  any  previous  one  on  this  subject.  As  to  these  petitions, 
it  said :  "  The  object  contemplated  in  these  memorials  we 
most  heartily  approve,  and  we  doubt  not  a  decided  majority 
of  this  body  take  the  same  view  of  the  matter.  There 
may,  however,  be  a  diversity  of  opinion,  as  to  the  manner 


156  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

of  securing  this  object.  We  have  already  heard  the  sug- 
gestion, 'Let  us  instruct  our  delegates  to  carry  out  our 
views.'  This  might  suffice  on  questions  of  mere  policy  or 
propriety;  but  where  conscience  is  concerned,  and  where 
matters  of  such  moment  as  cluster  around  the  slavery 
question  are  pending,  merely  instructing  our  delegates  is 
altogether  inadequate  to  the  end.  Nor  does  your  Com- 
mittee believe  that  pledges  made,  even  by  good  men,  in 
view  of  an  election,  are  alone  sufficient.'  In  fine,  we 
know  of  no  other  way  of  securing  the  object  desired 
in  the  memorials,  than  by  selecting  men  as  delegates 
who  are  known  to  be  in  favor  of  such  a  rule  as  is  men- 
tioned, and  who  are  known  by  their  votes  to  have  been 
in  favor  of  it  while  as  yet  the  issue  of  the  battle  over 
it  in  this  Conference  hung  in  doubt."  This  was  ap- 
proved by  all  the  committee  but  one.  He  had  re- 
cently come  to  us  from  a  Conference  in  a  more  southern 
latitude.  The  entire  report  was  adopted  by  the  Confer- 
ence with  a  gusto,  not  more  than  three  or  four  voting  ad- 
versely. 

Thus  the  opposition  had  been  growing  "  beautifully  less  " 
in  every  contest.  Immediately  after  this  action  the  fol- 
lowing named  persons  were  elected  delegates  to  the  General 
Conference :  Philo  S.  Bennett,  Isaac  M.  Leihy,  Edward 
Cook,  Elmore  Yocum,  and  Chauncey  Hobart. 

At  that  time  our  Church  Extension  Society,  that  is  accom- 
plishing so  much  everywhere,  had  not  come  into  existence. 
But  the  brethren  in  and  about  Chicago,  with  their  usual 
foresight  and  zeal,  had  formed  the  "Northwestern  Church 
Extension  Society,"  the  object  of  which  was  to  encourage 
and  aid  in  the  multiplication  of  church  edifices  and  par- 
sonages in  the  vast  region  known  as  the  Northwest.  This 
enterprise  was  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Conference, 
and  met  a  favorable  response  by  the  formation  of  a  society 
auxiliary  thereto,  with  president,  vice-president,  secretary, 


ANNALS  OF  1855.  157 

treasurer,  and  twenty  directors.  One-half  of  the  latter 
were  laymen.  The  Conference  recommended  activity  in 
taking  collections,  soliciting  donations,  and  procuring  lots 
in  eligible  places  for  the  intended  purpose. 

Our  Conference  territory  had  now^  become  very  large, 
and  the  hitherto  unoccupied  portions  of  it  w^ere  rapidly 
coming  under  pastoral  care.  The  number  of  preachers 
also  had  greatly  increased.  At  this  session  31  w^ere  re- 
ceived on  trial,  3  w^ere  added  by  re-admission,  and  6  by 
transfer  from  other  conferences,  making  an  increase  of  41 
to  our  ministerial  force. 

The  list  of  appointments  shows  176  pastoral  charges, 
37  of  which  were  developed  during  the  preceding  year. 
To  these  169  were  appointed  by  the  Conference,  and  36 
more  were  needed  to  fill  vacancies  or  places  "to  be  sup- 
plied." In  addition  to  these,  5  were  appointed  to  our  lit- 
erary institutions  and  to  the  agency  of  the  Tract  Society. 

J.  W.  Waterbury  was  transferred  to  Rock  River  Con- 
ference, 

S.  Stein  had  died,  but  no  obituary  appears  in  the 
Minutes. 

Among  the  new  charges  that  have  risen  to  importance, 
are  Neenah,  Ripon,  and  Evansville. 

As  early  as  1839,  Boyd  Phelps,  then  a  local  preacher, 
preached  the  first  sermon  in  Evansville.  In  1840  the  first 
class  was  formed  there,  probably  by  Jas.  Ash,  in  charge 
of  Monroe  Circuit,  then  included  in  Platteville  District. 
It  continued  as  a  subordinate  appointment  until  1855. 
During  the  Conference  year  1842-3  a  place  of  w^orship  was 
furnished  by  the  erection  of  a  log-building,  designed  both 
for  church  and  school  purposes.  It  was  that  year  included 
in  Madison  Mission.  In  1847  the  first  Church  iwo^er  was 
erected. 

The  list  of  appointments  appears  quite  formidable. 
There  were  14  districts — 6  more  tliau  the  preceding  year. 


158  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

There  were  ten  new  presiding  elders  appointed  to  these, 
viz.:  To  Milwaukee,  P.  S.  Bennett;  to  Racine,  E.  S. 
Grumley ;  to  Janesville,  J.  W.  Wood ;  to  Beaver  Dam, 
J.  M.  Walker;  to  Appleton,  E.  Yocum ;  to  Portage  City, 
R.  W.  Barnes ;  to  Platteville,  E.  C.  Jones ;  to  La  Crosse, 
R.  R.  Wood  ;  to  Winona,  N.  Hobart ;  to  Red  Wing,  J. 
Kerns.  The  other  districts  were  manned  as  last  year,  ex- 
cept that  Minnesota,  of  which  D.  Brooks  was  in  charge, 
became  three — Winona,  Red  Wing,  and  St.  Paul,  the  old 
incumbent  being  on  the  latter. 

Beaver  Dam  District  covered  nearly  the  same  territory 
as  Fox  River  of  the  previous  year,  now  dropped  from  the 
list  of  appointments. 

The  reports  of  the  year  just  closed  show  11,999  mem- 
bers, 2,371  probationers,  297  local  preachers  ;  these  added 
to  the  175  effective  preachers  and  13  superannuates, 
make  a  total  of  14,855 — an  increase  of  1,546. 

Twenty-one  churches  and  13  parsonages  had  been  built 
during  the  year,  and  decided  advance  made  in  the  benev- 
olences and  Sunday-school  work.  On  the  whole,  this  was 
one  of  our  most  prosperous  years. 

In  view  of  our  extending  territory  and  increasing  num- 
bers, it  was  deemed  advisable  to  divide  the  Conference. 
After  a  full  canvass  of  the  subject,  it  was  decided  to  ask 
the  General  Conference  to  constitute  three  from  the  terri- 
tory we  then  occupied,  to  be  called  respectively  Wisconsin, 
West  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota.  This  was  done,  the 
boundaries  being  much  as  at  present,  except  that  the  latter 
took  a  small  portion  of  the  northwest  part  of  our  State. 
It  was  also  arranged  that  Wisconsin  Conference  should 
meet  at  Appleton,  West  Wisconsin  at  Madison,  and  Min- 
nesota at  Red  Wing. 

The  fate  of  the  "new  rule,"  proposed  at  our  last  ses- 
sion, should  be  noted.  Having  failed  to  receive  the  requisite 
three-fourths  majority  of  all  the  members  of  the  Annual 


ANNALS  OF  1855.  159 

Conferences,  it  did  not  go  to  the  next  General  Conference 
with  a  constitutional  demand  to  be  heard.  Yet  it  was 
there.  The  slavery  question  was  then  the  all-absorbing 
one  before  the  American  people,  as  the  temperance  ques- 
tion is  to-day.  And  our  Church  was  thoroughly  awake  to 
it.  A  "  Committee  on  Slavery"  was  appointed,  consisting 
of  one  from  each  Annual  Conference,  to  which  all  papers 
relating  to  the  subject  were  referred.  The  writer  was  the 
member  from  Wisconsin  Conference.  No  less  than  three 
other  Conferences — Troy,  Erie,  and  North  Ohio — had  each 
proposed  a  new  rule  on  slavery,  which  went  the  round  of 
Conferences;  but  the  "  Wisconsin  Rule,"  as  it  was  called, 
received  the  most  favor  from  the  progressive  anti-slavery 
men.  In  fact,  no  other  one  was  considered  in  the  com- 
mittee. This  was  gratifying  to  the  writer,  not  only  on 
account  of  paternal  regard,  but  especially  because  he 
deemed  it  just  what  was  demanded  by  the  nature  of  the 
case.  It  was  brief,  comprehensive,  and  had  the  needed 
grip.  So  he  guarded  it  to  the  best  of  his  ability.  But  it 
failed  of  a  majority,  even  in  the  committee. 

Still  the  cause  did  not  meet  a  Waterloo  or  an  Appo- 
mattox. Like  'Banquo's  ghost,  it  would  not  down.  But 
it  was  evident  that  no  very  radical  measure  could  be 
carried  through  the  General  Conference,  and  equally  evi- 
dent .that  two  adverse  reports  would  be  made  to  that  body 
by  the  committee.  A  sub-committee  was  therefore  ap- 
pointed, consisting  of  Wm.  Hosmer,  Calvin  Kingsley  (aft- 
erwards elected  bishop),  Asbury  Lowrey,  Daniel  Wise,  and 
Philo  S.  Bennett,  to  prepare  a  chapter  on  slavery,  to  take 
the  place  of  the  one  then  in  the  Discipline.  This  was  done, 
and  the  proposed  chapter  formed  a  part  of  the  minority 
report,  which  was  written  by  the  chairman,  Dr.  Miner 
Raymond.  The  report  was  a  very  strong  one,  and  pro- 
duced a  profound  impression.  The  subject  was  thoroughly 
discussed,  and  anti-slavery  sentiment  was  doubtless  greatly 


160  ^  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

increased  thereby,  but  the  proposed  chapter  was  not 
adopted. 

No  one,  however,  knowing  the  facts,  could  fail  to  see  that 
the  cause  was  "  marching  on."  In  the  General  Conference 
of  1836 — twenty  years  before — there  were  fourteen  Aboli- 
tionists. Two  of  the  number  attended  an  anti-slavery 
meeting  one  evening,  and  were,  by  a  formal  vote  of  the 
General  Conference,  censured  for  thus  bringing  disgrace 
upon  the  body.  Now  the  subject  was  freely  discussed  in 
open  Conference  day  after  day,  with  nearly  equal  forces 
arrayed  on  either  side.  And  even  a  public  political  anti- 
slavery  meeting  was  attended  by  scores  of  the  members, 
and  no  thought  of  censure  was  entertained. 

The  w^riter  is  aware  that  he  has  traveled  outside  the 
scope  of  this  history  in  giving  some  of  the  above  facts, 
but  he  thought  the  reader  would  desire  this  amount  of  in- 
formation on  the  general  subject. 


ANNALS  OF  1856.  161 


CHAPTER  V. 
1856-7. 

THE  Ninth  Session  of  our  Conference  was  held  in  Ap- 
pleton,   commencing  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  Sep- 
tember,  1856. 

Many  of  the  preachers  had  never  seen  this  young  and 
promising  town,  and  they  were  delighted,  both  with  the 
appearance  of  the  college  and  with  the  majestic  Fox,  one 
of  the  grandest  rivers  in  the  Northwest.  The  immense 
water-power  was  thought  by  some  of  them  to  insure  a  city 
of  large  proportions  in  the  near  future. 

The  beginning  of  our  work  here  has  already  been 
chronicled.  In  1850  it  became  the  head  of  a  circuit,  em- 
bracing what  is  now  Neenah  and  Menasha.  It  soon  de- 
manded, and  received,  the  entire  labors  of  a  minister.  In 
1854  the  first  church  edifice  was  reported.  It  was  a  frame 
building  40x60,  with  a  basement  above  ground,  and  a  gal- 
lery at  each  side  and  one  end,  which  greatly  increased  its 
seating  capacity. 

Bishop  Simpson,  elected  to  the  episcopacy  in  1852, 
presided  at  this  Conference.  He  will  be  characterized 
hereafter.  W.  H.  Sampson  was  re-elected  secretary,  and 
J.  C.  Dana  and  Geo.  Fellows  assistants. 

The  ordinary  routine  of  business  passed  on  with  usual 
dispatch.  Some  new  interests  were  brought  to  the  view 
of  the  Conference,  which  were  promptly  considered. 

•Among:   these    were    the    Wilberforce    Universitv,  in 


162  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Ohio,  and  the  Evansville  Seminary  within  our  borders. 
The  former  was  designed  for  the  benefit  of  tlie  African  race 
especially,  and  was  just  struggling  into  existence.  It  seemed 
very  proper  that  an  institution  for  such  a  purpose  should 
bear  the  name  of  the  distinguished  Christian  statesman 
whose  efforts  were  so  effective  in  the  abolition  of  African 
slavery  in  the  British  West  Indies.  But  this  was  of  com- 
paratively small  account.  The  intrinsic  character  of  the  en- 
terprise commended  itself  to  every  true  philanthropist, 
and  the  Conference  heartily  commended  it,  and  pledged  co- 
operation with  other  Conferences  in  its  establishment. 
The  other  institution  also  received  a  cordial  indorsement, 
and  five  visitors  were  appointed  to  aid  the  trustees  in 
their  new  undertaking. 

Lawrence  University  was  still  very  promising,  and 
prosperous  in  everything  except  in  finances.  Said  the 
Committee  on  Education:  *'It  has  now  fully  organized 
the  four  regular  college  classes,  with  a  course  of  study 
prescribed  in  its  catalogue  equal  in  extent  and  variety  to 
that  of  any  college  in  the  Eastern  States."  It  was  doing 
its  work  in  three  departments — preparatory,  academic, 
and  collegiate — with  a  large  patronage  of  students. 

But  its  exchequer  was  very  meager.  The  plan  of 
raising  fifty  thousand  dollars  by  the  sale  of  perpetual 
scholarships  at  fifty  dollars  each,  had  not  met  exjDectation. 
The  requisite  number  had  been  sold,  but  as  the  purchasers 
had  considerable  time  on  them,  many  were  never  paid  for. 
On  some,  one  or  two  payments  only  were  made.  On  the 
whole  there  was  a  failure  of  many  thousand  dollars.  The 
causes  for  this  were  various.  The  process  of  selling  ex- 
tended through  a  period  of  several  years,  such  was  the 
poverty  of  the  sparsely-populated  country.  Then  only  one- 
third  of  the  price  was  due,  leaving  one  and  two  years  for 
the  other  payments.  During  these  five  or  six  years  some 
had  died,  some  had  removed  from  the  country,  some  had 


ANNALS  OF  1856.  163 

experienced  reverses  of  fortune,  and  some,  perhaps,  who 
supposed  they  could  sell  at  a  great  advance,  when  they 
found  they  could  not,  refused  to  pay  up,  Those  who  sent 
their  children  at  once,  or  intended  to  soon,  of  course  paid 
for  their  scholarships ;  so  did  some  others.  This  brought 
a  large  number  of  students,  but  very  little  money  to  pay 
expenses,  as  only  the  interest  on  the  scholarships  sold  was 
available.  Thus  the  trustees  became  very  much  embar- 
rassed, and,  but  for  the  self  sacrificing  spirit  of  the  profes- 
sors, the  college  could  not  have  long  survived. 

The  Committee  on  Education  looked  the  difficulty  di- 
rectly in  the  face,  and  frankly  informed  the  Conference 
of  the  facts. 

There  were  some  hopeful  signs.  Citizens  of  Appleton 
had  pledged  ten  thousand  dollars  to  increase  the  endow- 
ment, on  condition  that  twenty  thousand  dollars  should  be 
raised  from  other  sources.  Then  there  were  several  stu- 
dents in  the  college  classes  who  intended  to  enter  the  min- 
istry. This  was  an  additional  incentive  to  action.  So, 
with  unflagging  courage,  the  heroic  band  went  on. 

As  usual  the  slavery  question  was  prominent.  A  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  H.  Requa,  P.  B.  Pease,  and  O.  E. 
Hall,  was  appointed  on  the  subject.  Following  a  well- 
written  preamble  are  seven  resolutions,  four  of  which  are 
here  given : 

''Resolved,  That  while  we  deeply  regret  the  failure  of  our 
last  General  Conference  to  effect  a  change  in  our  General 
Rule  on  Slavery,  we  record  with  gratitude  the  fact  that  a 
large  majority  declared  in  favor  of  the  highest  measure 
ever  proposed  by  an  Annual  Conference  on  that  subject. 

"  JResolved,  That  we  highly  approve  of  the  provision  made 
by  the  last  General  Conference  for  the  publication  of  anti- 
slavery  literature  by  our  Book  Concern,  and  confidently 
look  forward  to  the  day  when  slavery  shall  be  treated  in 
all  our  publications  like  intemperance  or  any  other  sin. 


164  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

"  Resolved,  That  in  accepting  the  ministerial  office  we 
have  never  relinquished  our  rights,  as  citizens  or  as  Chris- 
tians, to  speak  our  sentiments,  to  vote  our  principles,  and 
to  pray  for  the  universal  triumph  of  the  principles  of  the 
gospel  of  Christ ;  and,  by  the  grace  of  God,  we  never  will. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  deeply  sympathize  with  the  suffer- 
ing freemen  of  Kansas,  and  that  we  will  ever  pray  and 
vote  for  the  complete  triumph  of  the  glorious  cause  of 
liberty." 

Young  readers  will  probably  see,  as  older  ones  will  call 
to  mind,  that  Abolitionists  then  met  the  same  influences  that 
Prohibitionists  do  now.  The  cry, ''Political  preachers!" 
"  Keep  politics  out  of  the  pulpit!"  etc.,  then  meant,  "  You 
must  do  nothing  to  hurt  my  party."  It  means  the  same 
now.  But  as  we  were  not  awed  into  silence  by  the  slave- 
power  then,  so  we  will  not  be  by  the  liquor-power  that  is 
now  dominating  this  Nation. 

The  Conference  last  year  was  much  more  formidable  in 
appearance  than  this,  as  about  one-half  of  the  preachers  had 
fallen  into  the  newly  formed  Conferences.  The  absence 
of  many  of  the  older  members  was  especially  noticeable ; 
as,  A.  Brunson,  W.  Wilcox,  C.  Hobart,  D.  Brooks,  A. 
Calendar,  I.  Searl,  and  M.  Himebaugh.  Still  there  re- 
mained ninety-two  with  us,  including  those  on  trial,  among 
whom  was  a  sufficient  number  of  experienced  men  to  guide 
matters  safely.  The  two  last  named  returned  to  our  Con- 
ference after  a  few  years. 

Of  the  young  members  who  were  removed  by  the  divis- 
ion, one  especially — John  L.  Dyer — reached  an  enviable 
distinction.  This  distinction  was  won,  not  by  discoveries 
in  science,  inventions  in  art,  or  brilliant  pulpit  orations,  but 
by  self-sacrificing  toil.  After  a  few  years  he  went  "  West," 
and  became  a  pioneer  presiding  elder.  His  district  covered 
all  there  was  of  Colorado  and  Arizona.  Perhaps  he  could 
not,  with  Paul,  speak  of  "perils  in  the  city,"  but  he  prob- 


ANNALS  OF  1856.  165 

ably  could  of  "perils  in  the  wilderness,"  "perils  by  the 
heathen,"  and  "  joiirneyings  often."  And  those  journey- 
ings  were  not  performed  in  palace  cars.  "  A  noble  son"  of 
his  became  territorial  judge,  and  was  assassinated  by  a  mob 
on  July  3,  1875,  for  standing  erect  "  for  law  and  order 
and  principle."  The  old  veteran  still  lives,  respected  and 
honored  by  all. 

One  remarkable  circumstance  came  to  light  in  the  cab- 
inet work  of  the  Conference  this  year  ;  viz. ,  not  one  of  the 
six  presiding  elders  was  in  the  cabinet  the  year  before.  This 
was  a  little  embarrassing,  yet  we  got  along  tolerably  well. 

The  bishop  was  on  his  first  episcopal  tour  in  this  part  of 
our  great  field.  He  was  elected  in  1852,  and  had  already 
acquired  considerable  fame  as  a  pulpit  orator,  though  he 
had  not  reached  his  zenith.  His  sermon  in  College  Chapel 
on  Sabbath  produced  a  profound  impression.  It  was 
founded  on  Acts  xx,  24. 

A  pen-and-ink  description  of  the  magic  power  of  the 
preacher,  or  of  the  eflfect  of  the  sermon  on  his  hearers, 
would  be  a  vain  attempt.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  more  were 
ready  to  be  martyrs  at  its  close  than  at  its  beginning,  and 
some  probably  settled  the  question  as  to  their  life-work  who 
had  been  vacillating. 

In  looking  over  the  work  of  the  year  it  was  seen  that 
a  decided  advance  had  been  made  in  all  our  borders.  Such 
had  been  the  success  of  the  Norwegian  Mission  that  a  sepa- 
rate district  was  created  for  it,  containing  ten  appointments, 
the  charge  of  which  was  committed  to  I.  M.  Leihy. 

The  work  had  so  extended  among  our  own  people  that 
more  than  twenty  new  pastoral  charges  appear  in  the  Min- 
utes. A  few  of  these  will  be  mentioned  here,  and  for  the 
others  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  proper  appendix. 

A  new  district  was*  also  formed  in  the  English  work, 
called  Watertown,  to  which  C.  G.  Lathrop  was  appointed. 

A.  P.  Allen  was  appointed  to  Fond  du  Lac  District  at 


166  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

the  preceding  Conference ;  but  his  health  failing  somewhat, 
he  resigned  it,  and  I.  M.  Leihy  was  appointed  thereto  for 
the  rest  of  the  year.  At  this  Conference  it  was  put  in 
charge  of  H.  Requa.  The  incumbents  of  the  other  dis- 
tricts were  the  same  as  the  previous  year. 

Very  little  change  occurred  in  the  appointments  except 
in  name.  City  Mission,  in  Milwaukee,  became  Grove 
Street;  and  Wauwatosa,  Brookfield. 

Kewaunee,  a  circuit  almost  without  bounds,  in  Fond 
du  Lac  District,  was  a  new  pastoral  charge.  N.  J.  Aplin, 
in  charge  of  Manitowoc  the  previous  year,  skirmished  along 
its  southern  border,  and  had  some  romantic  experiences. 
West  Beloit,  in  «Tanesville  District,  was  also  a  new  charge, 
and  its  subsequent  history  indicates  that  its  formation  was 
premature.  Appleton  District  showed  the  most  enlarge- 
ment. Seven  new  charges  appear,  besides  New  London,  in 
connection  with  Hortonville.  But  "Appleton,  Second 
AVard,"  was  not  a  success. 

The  statistical  report  would  show  a  great  lack  of  success 
were  it  not  for  the  removal  of  so  many  ministers  and  mem- 
bers by  the  division  of  the  Conference.  The  report  is  as 
follows:  Members,  6,690;  probationers,  1,36G;  local  preach- 
ers, 158 ;  effective  preachers  in  Conference  105  ;  superan- 
nuated preachers,  11 ;  total,  8,330;  pastoral  charges,  109; 
places  to  be  supplied,  13. 

Eighteen  preachers  were  received  on  trial,  and  one  re- 
admitted— C.  S.  Macreading.  Eleven  were  transferred  to 
other  Conferences. 

C.  Willerup,  the  father  of  the  Norwegian  Mission  work 
in  the  Northwest,  deserves  special  mention.  He  was  not 
transferred,  but  appointed  a  missionary  to  Norway,  remain- 
•ng  a  member  of  our  Conference.  This  was  the  beginning 
f  our  work  in  that  land,  and  now'  for  years  we  have  had 
an  Annual  Conference  theie,  Mr.  Willerup  will  receive 
further  attention  in  due  time. 


ANNALS  OF  1S57.  167 

1857. 

This  year  the  Conference  met  in  Milwaukee,  in  Spring 
Street  Church,  commencing  on  the  20th  of  August,  Bishop 
R.  E.  Ames  presiding.  W.  H.  Sampson  was  again  elected 
secretary,  with  S.  W.  Ford  and  Geo.  Fellows,  assistants. 
This  was  the  second  time  Mr.  Sampson  had  thus  served 
the  Conference. 

Bishop  Ames  presided  over  us  five  years  before,  at  our 
session  in  Fond  du  Lac,  it  being  his  first  Conference  after 
he  was  elected  to  the  episcopacy.  In  the  proper  place  some 
of  his  prominent  characteristics  will  be  noted. 

Though  this  was  the  tenth  session  of  our  Conference,  it 
had  never  convened  in  the  metropolis  of  the  State. ^,  It  is 
believed  that  the  Churches  in  the  city  and  the  members  of 
the  Conference  were  mutually  profited  by  their  intercourse. 

The  session  of  an  Annual  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  ought  to  be  a  benediction  to  any  place. 

Small  towns  may  appreciate  such  occasions  more  than 
large  ones,  but  the  latter  are  often  quite  as  much  in  need 
of  their  savory  influence.  Milwaukee  has  shown  its  appre- 
ciation by  receiving  the  Conference  in  annual  session  four 
times  since  then. 

Among  the  standing  committees  of  this  year  was  one 
on  ''Lay  Delegation."  Previous  to  this  time  laymen  had 
never  been  admitted  to  seats  in  our  Conference.  Of  course 
they  had  been  welcomed  as  spectators,  and  encouraged  to 
thus  attend.  But  many  felt  that  this  did  not  meet  the 
spirit  of  the  age  nor  the  demands  of  the  case.  A  commit- 
tee was  therefore  ordered,  who  presented  the  following 
report : 

"  Whereas,  The  finances  of  the  Church  are  inseparably 
connected  with  her  spiritual  prosperity  ;  and 

*  The  Eock  Eiver  Conference,  which  covered  all  this  coun- 
try, was  held  there  in  1844. 


168  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

"  Whereas,  She  is  principally  dependent  on  her  laity  for 
pecuniary  assistance ;  and 

"Whereas,  A  voice  in  the  management  of  her  finances,  as 
connected  with  our  Annual  Conferences,  would,  we  apprehend, 
greatly  increase  the  interest  of  our  lay  brethren  therein ; 
therefore, 

"  Resolved,  1.  Tliat  we  will  receive  a  lay  delegation  on  the 
subject  of  finance,  composed  of  one  member  from  each  district 
within  the  bounds  of  our  Conference,  who  shall  be  entitled  to 
give  counsel  and  speak  on  all  subjects  directly  involving  the 
pecuniary  interests  of  the  Church. 

"  Resolved,  2.  They  shall  be  elected  yearly  by  the  nomina- 
tion of  the  presiding  elder  and  the  vote  of  the  Conference. 

"I.  Searls,  Chairman." 

This  was  probably  all  that  the  existing  law  of  the 
Church  warranted  the  committee  in  doing,  and  the  report 
is  written  with  the  characteristic  caution  of  the  honored 
brother  whose  name  as  chairman  is  appended. 

The  report  was  adopted,  and  nine  laymen  were  elected 
to  meet  with  us  the  next  year  for  the  purpose  stated.  As 
this  was  a  new  departure,  their  names  are  here  given,  as 
follows :  David  Wilcox,  E.  A.  Foot,  P.  Porter,  S.  Mc- 
Laughlin, W.  W.  Wright,  K.  K.  Bateman,  D.  Scott,  John 
Bangs,  Geo.  H.  Foster. 

A  committee  was  appointed  on  another  subject  also, 
which  had  not  before  engaged  our  special  attention,  viz., 
''Peace,"  of  which  C.  S.  Macreadiug  was  chairman.  The 
report  in  a  small  compass  set  forth  tlie  Scriptural  idea  of 
war  as  proceeding  from  the  perversion  of  manly  powers, 
and  looked  forward  to  the  day  when,  through  the  "active 
instrumentality  of  Christians,"  it  should  be  no  more  known 
in  the  earth.  Little  did  we  think  as  our  hands  were  lifted 
for  the  adoption  of  this  report  that  our  Nation  would  so 
soon  be  involved  in  the  greatest  civil  war  known  in  the 
history  of  our  race. 

In  other  respects  the  business  of  the  Conference  went 
on  in  about  the  usual  way. 


4f 

ANNALS  OF  1857.  169 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Education  showed  the 
university  to  be  prospering,  although,  like  most  young  in- 
stitutions of  the  kind,  struggling  with  financial  difficulties. 
The  trustees  had  not  abandoned  the  project  of  endowing  a 
chair  in  Hebrew  and  Biblical  literature,  and  had  also  re- 
solved upon  an  effort  to  add  $50,000  to  the  Endowment 
Fund.  To  both  projects  the  Conference  gave  its  hearty 
approval. 

At  the  recent  Commencement  the  college  had  graduated 
its  first  class,  consisting  of  four  gentlemen  and  three  ladies. 

It  is  proper  to  state  here  that  our  cherished  institution 
was  commenced  on  a  plan  of  giving  equal  opportunities, 
every  way,  to  both  sexes.     In.  this  respect  it  was  a  'pioneer. 

Female  colleges  existed  before  this ;  but  few,  if  any, 
had  adopted  the  policy  of  the  co-education  of  the  sexes  in 
the  same  institution,  and  in  all  the  departments  of  the  col- 
lege curriculum.  It  was  therefore  a  novel  affair  to  see 
ladies  constituted  *' Bachelors;"  but  being  done  scientifically, 
none  could  say  aught  against  it. 

Now  many  colleges  are  conducted  on  the  co-educational 
plan,  and  the  old  idea  that  the  female  mind  can  not  suc- 
cessfully grapple  with  the  sterner  studies — chemistry  and 
the  higher  mathematics — is  pretty  thoroughly  exploded. 
Our  pioneer  institution  has  contributed  its  share  in  settling 
this  question. 

The  action  of  the  Conference  on  the  temperance  and  the 
slavery  question  showed  a  firm  adherence  to  the  principles 
previously  enunciated  on  these  subjects. 

The  report  on  Tobacco,  written  by  the  late  P.  B. 
Pease,  was  a  brief  but  able  discussion  of  its  origin,  nature, 
and  the  injurious  effects  of  its  use.  It  boldly  declared 
that  its  habitual  use  in  any  form  is  wrong,  and  that  ref- 
ormation should  "  begin  with  the  teachers  of  a  pure 
Christianity."  The  report  closed  with  the  following  reso- 
lutions, all  of  which  were  adopted  with  great  unanimity  : 

14 


170  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

"  1st.  That  we  regard  the  practice  of  smoking,  chewing,  and 
sniifl&ng  tobacco,  as  wasteful  and  filthy,  alike  subversive  of 
the  principles  of  self-denial  and  that  purity  of  body  required 
by  the  gospel. 

"2d.  That  as  ministers  we  will  discountenance  its  use  in 
any  form,  as  an  indulgence,  both  by  precept  and  example. 

"  3d.  That  we  will  not  vote  to  receive  on  probation  any 
candidate  for  admission  to  our  Annual  Conference  who  in- 
dulges in  the  use  of  tobacco,  until  the  presiding  elder  repre- 
senting the  case  can  give  satisfactory  evidence  of  a  determi- 
nation to  reform. 

"  4th.  That  we  will  not  vote  to  receive  into  full  member- 
ship, or  to  receive  ordination  for  the  traveling  connection,  any 
candidate  who  is  in  the  habitual  use  of  tobacco,  until  he  shall 
first  satisfy  the  Conference  of  a  determination  to  abstain  from 
its  use ;  and,  in  order  to  secure  this,  we  most  respectfully  re- 
quest the  presiding  bishop,  in  the  examination  of  candidates, 
to  ascertain  these  facts  by  interrogation. 

"P.  B.  Pease,  Chairman." 

So  far  as  is  known,  this  is  the  highest  ground  ever 
taken  before  by  any  Annual  Conference  in  our  connection. 
It  attracted  attention  and  some  adverse  criticism,  but  we 
steadfastly  maintained  our  ground,  and  have  had  the 
pleasure  of  witnessing  its  good  eflTects  in  keeping  our  preachers 
from  polluting  their  mouths  and  vitiating  their  breaths 
with  the  poisonous  weed  ;  and  finally  of  seeing  the  principle 
incorporated  in  our  Disciplinary  regulations  for  licensing 
preachers  and  receiving  them  into  the  itinerant  ministry, 
the  world  over. 

The  changes  in  the  appointments  still  indicate  progress. 
A  new  district,  called  Steven's  Point,  appears  in  the  list, 
with  S.  L.  Brown,  presiding  elder. 

A.  Hamilton  succeeded  C.  G.  Lathrop  on  Watertown 
District;  A.  Callender,  I.  M.  Leihy,  in  charge  of  Norwe- 
gian District;  and  J.  H.  Jenne,  E.  Yocum,  on  Appleton 
District. 

A  few  months  before  the  Conference  convened,  the 
health  of  Rev,  S.   C.  Thomas,  pastor  of  Jackson  Street 


ANNALS  OF  1857.  171 

Church,  partially  failed,  and  resigning  his  charge,  the 
place  was  supplied  by  Rev.  H.  C.  Tilton,  late  of  the  East 
Maine  Conference.  In  the  meantime  a  new  church-edifice 
had  been  commenced  on  the  corner  of  Van  Buren  and 
Biddle  Streets,  called  Summerfield  Church,  by  which  name 
it  is  still  known.  The  self-sacrificing  struggles  of  the  no- 
ble band  of  brethren  there  will  be  noticed  in  due  time. 
To  this  charge,  H.  C.  Tilton,  having  been  readmitted,  was 
appointed. 

The  "Walker's  Point,"  "  Reed  Street,"  and  "Grove 
Street"  Church  of  former  years  received  another  christen- 
ing, and  has  since  borne  the  name  of  Asbury  Church  Avith 
becoming  grace. 

The  Norwegran  District  was  vast  in  extent — embracing 
all  the  settlements  of  that  nationalty  in  Wisconsin,  and 
then  reaching  out  to  Chicago  in  the  south,  and  to  Upper 
Iowa  and  St.  Paul  in  the  northwest. 

Fourteen  peachers  were  received  on  trial  this  year,  and 
five  readmitted  to  full  membership  who  had  previously 
been  members  of  Annual  Conferences. 

At  this  session  seven  located. 

G.  N.  Hanson,  having  been  connected  with  our  work 
since  1844,  had  passed  to  the  home  beyond,  at  the  age  of 
forty-five  years.  For  six  years  he  had  been  on  the  retired 
list.  He  was  a  thoroughly  consecrated  man.  "  His  life 
was  one  of  labor  and  usefulness  ;  his  death,  triumphant 
and  glorious." 

Rev.  Elmore  Yocum  was  transferred  to  West  Wiscon- 
sin Conference.  This  eminently  devoted  man  deserves  a 
more  extended  notice  than  can  be  given  him  here.  In 
1830  he  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference,  and 
into  full  connection  in  1832.  On  the  formation  of  the 
North  Ohio  Conference  he  fell  into  that  body,  and  in  1849 
came  into  our  Conference  by  transfer,  and  was  appointed 
presiding  elder  of  Platteville   District,  on  which  he  per- 


172  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

formed  four  years  of  very  successful  work.  The  next  two 
years  he  was  pastor  at  Appleton,  and  the  two  following 
he  was  in  charge  of  Appleton  District,  then  extending 
over  an  immense  region,  to  which  settlers  were  just  push- 
ing their  way,  many  parts  of  which  could  be  reached  only 
with  great  difficulty.  His  faithful  "  Oscar,"  that  had  been 
his  traveling  companion  for  many  years,  bore  him  on  his 
back  to  many  a  secluded  settlement  and  lonely  cabin,  al- 
most inaccessible  by  any.  other  method.  He  represented 
his  Master  so  much  that  his  presence  was  both  a  doxology 
and  a  benediction.  He  is  still  mentioned  by  the  older 
inhabitants  with  expressions  bordering  on  veneration.  And 
what  is  quite  as  remarkable  is,  that  in  so  hard  a  field  to 
traverse  he  visited  every  part  of  it  with  great  punctuality, 
and  explored  much  new  territory,  though  well  on  towards 
threescore  years  of  age.  Since  his  transfer  he  has  been 
almost  incessantly  in  active  ministerial  work.  Now,  an 
octogenarian,  he  is  awaiting  the  call  of  the  Master,  who 
doubtless  will  soon  say,  "  Well  done,  good  and  faithful 
servant !" 

Some  of  those  who  located  also  deserve  a  brief  tribute. 
Two  of  them  were  subsequently  readmitted  to  our  Confer- 
ence, and  therefore  will  not  be  mentioned  here.  The 
names  of  John  Tibballs,  O.  E.  Hall,  J.  C.  Dana,  N. 
Oleson,  and  Wm.  McDonald,  do  not  reappear  in  our  Con- 
ference records. 

Mr.  Tibballs  was  a  noble  man,  earnest,  devout,  firm  in 
principle,  and  of  good  ability  as  a  preacher ;  but  he  was 
a  victim  of  ill-health.  He  attempted  the  itinerancy  in  the 
North  Ohio  Conference,  and  two  or  three  times  in  this; 
but  in  each  case  was  compelled  to  desist  on  account  of 
physical  disability,  ^yheu  last  seen  by  the  writer  he  re- 
sided in  Bloomington,  111.,  "faint,  yet  pursuing." 

Mr.  Hall   did  several  years   of  good  work  among  us. 


ANNALS  OF  1857.  173 

V 

and  then  felt  compelled  to  desist  from  the  active  ministry 
to  care  for  aged  parents. 

Mr.  Dana  was  a  rising  young  man,  and  re-entered  the 
itinerant  ranks  in  Minnesota  Conference. 

Wm.  McDonald  has  been  so  long  and  so  prominently 
before  the  world  as  an  able  preacher  of  Christian  holiness 
and  editor  of  a  journal  devoted  to  the  cause  as  to  render 
it  unnecessary  to  say  much  in  this  place.  Of  all  the  able 
men  that  constituted  the  National  Committee  under  whose 
direction  so  many  camp-raeetings  have  been  held  for  the 
promotion  of  "  Scripture  holiness,"  no  one  possessed  a 
keener  intellect,  or  could  give  a  clearer  or  more  con- 
vincing view  of  the  subject. 

Of  Mr.  Oleson  tlie  writer  has  no  knowledge  after  his 
location. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  diminution  in  our  numbers 
last  year  by  the  division  of  the  Conference,  the  reports  of 
this  year  show  a  very  healthful  advance.  They  are  as 
follows :  Members,  probationers,  and  preachers,  9,562,  be- 
ing an  increase  of  1,232.  There  were  131  pastoral  charges, 
an  increase  of  21. 


174  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
1858-9. 

THE  Conference  this  year  was  held  in  Beloit,  with 
Bishop  Morris  as  president ;  W.  G.  Miller,  secretary ; 
and  S.  W.  Ford  and  Geo.  Fellows,  assistants.  It  com- 
menced on  the  12th  of  May,  which  was  much  earlier  in  the 
season  than  we  had  been  accustomed  to  meet. 

For  several  years,  both  before  and  after  this,  there  was 
considerable  variation  in  the  times  of  holding  our  sessions. 
Previous  to  this  year  they  varied  from  June  25th  to  Sep- 
tember 17th.  Their  subsequent  variations  will  be  noted 
hereafter.  The  main  argument  for  an  early  session  was 
that  every  man  might  reap  the  fruits  of  his  own  garden, 
and  strangely  enough  it  prevailed. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  on  the  12th  of  July, 
1848,  Bishop  Morris  organized  the  Wisconsin  Conference, 
and  presided  during  the  session.  In  this  interim  Time's 
fingers  had  wrought  some  change,  both  on  the  robust  frame 
of  the  bishop  and  on  the  personnel  of  the  Conference.  Very 
few  were  at  this  session  that  received  appointments  ten 
years  before.  This  was  due  in  large  measure  to  the  divis- 
ion of  the  Conference  already  described. 

Eight  years  before,  the  Conference  had  held  a  session  in 
Beloit,  and  the  people  were  so  delighted  with  it  that  some 
of  them  expressed  a  strong  desire  for  it  the  next  year. 
And  surely  this  should  not  be  an  exception.  A  convoca- 
tion of  fifty  or  a  hundred  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  any 
place  for  a  week  ought  to  be  a  '*  savor  of  life  unto  life," 
and  thus  awaken  a  desire  for  its  recurrence. 


ANNALS  OF  1858.  I75 

The  business  of  the  Conference  proceeded  with  the 
usual  dispatch  of  those  days.  If  anything  was  done  out 
of  the  ordinary  course  deserving  of  special  mention,  it 
was  the  appointment  of  a  "  Committee  on  Historical 
Records." 

This  consisted  of  H.  W.  Frink,  P.  S.  Bennett,  and 
David  Lewis.  Had  that  committee  been  fully  awake  to 
the  importance  of  the  matter,  they  doubtless  would  have 
saved  much  to  enrich  these  pages  that  is  now  beyond  re- 
covery. But  it  is  difficult  for  those  that  are  making  his- 
tory, or  who  are  familiar  with  recent  events,  to  realize  their 
value  in  coming  years.  Now,  after  thirty  years,  we  are 
searching  and  searching  for  some  things  that  were  then 
well  known,  and,  perhaps,  appeared  too  trivial  to  record. 
May  the  readers  of  these  pages  act  more  wisely  ! 

The  reports  adopted  showed  no  special  change  from 
former  years. 

The  resolutions  of  the  previous  year  on  the  use  of  to- 
bacco were  reaffirmed. 

The  first  resolution  of  the  report  on  Slavery  affirmed, 
as  the  sense  of  the  Conference,  "that  all  voluntary  slave- 
holders who  are  received  and  remain  among  us,  obtain  and 
retain  their  membership  in  violation  of  the  spirit  and  letter 
of  the  Discipline  of  the  Church."  Another  demands  sub- 
stantially the  change  in  our  General  Rule  that  the  Con- 
ference had  been  insisting  upon  for  years,  while  another  spe- 
cifically commends  the  editors  of  the  Quarterly  Review  and 
the  Sunday-school  Advocate  (Doctors  Whedon  and  Wise) 
for  their  bold  utterances  against  slavery. 

The  report  on  Sunday-schools  closes  thus  : 

^^ Resolved,  4.  That  we,  as  a  Conference,  highly  approve 
of  the  man-like,  Christian-like,  and  Wise-like  course  of  our 
editor  of  the  Sunday-school  Advocate,  and  that  his  refusing 
to  bow  down  or  obey  the  dictation  of  the  slave-power  gives 
his  paper  a  larger  and  warmer  place  in  our  affection  ;  and 


176  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

this  affection  should  be  manifest  by  our  increased  efforts 
for  its  enlarged  circulation." 

That  the  reader  may  fully  understand  this,  it  should 
be  stated  that  considerable  anti-slavery  matter  had  appeared 
in  the  Sunday-school  Advocate  previous  to  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1856,  and  that  a  strong  but  ineffectual  effort 
was  made  by  those  opposed  to  this  to  defeat  his  re-election 
at  that  time.  All  who  are  acquainted  with  Rev.  J.  An- 
derson, the  chairman  of  the  committee,  will  see  that  the 
above  resolution  is  quite  characteristic. 

In  accordance  with  the  Conference  action  already  re- 
corded, laymen  were  this  year  allowed  to  take  a  part  in  some 
of  our  business  matters.  The  general  question  of  lay  delega- 
tion had  not  yet  been  agitated  very  much. 

Of  course  the  affairs  of  the  university  were  duly  con- 
sidered. The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Education  showed 
its  liabilities  to  be  $17,686,  and  its  assets  of  all  kinds 
$144,531.  But  succeeding  years  proved  a  great  falling  off 
in  the  latter,  while  the  former  held  on  with  a  very  tena- 
cious grip. 

It  was  also  shown  that  the  Evansville  Seminary  had 
made  a  promising  beginning,  and  the  Conference  gave  it 
the  sanction  of  appointing  visitors  thereto. 

The  labors  of  the  year  had  developed  fifteen  new  pas- 
toral charges;  but  as  the  Norwegian  District  was  disbanded, 
and  the  appointments  distributed  among  the  Conferences 
within  whose  boundary-lines  they  were  located,  this  increase 
is  not  apparent  in  our  Minutes.  Really  but  three  of  these 
were  in  our  Conference  territory.  The  others  were  within 
the  Rock  River,  West  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  and  Minnesota 
Conference  limits.  Some  of  these  new  charges  have  as- 
sumed positions  of  considerable  importance,  notably  Sharon, 
Clinton,  Shopiere,  and  Vinland. 

All  the  districts,  except  the  one  just  mentioned,  re- 
mained substantially  the  same  as  last  year,  and  the  only 


ANNALS  OF  1858.  177 

change  in  the  incumbents  was  that  Jos.  Anderson  was  ap- 
pointed to  Fond  du  Lac  District,  in  place  of  Henry  Requa, 
who  retired  temporarily  from  the  active  work. 

The  "Disciplinary  Questions"  and  answers  present  an 
unusual  appearance.  They  show  21  received  on  trial,  1 
located,  1  withdrawn  from  the  connection,  1  expelled,  and 
11  transferred  to  other  Conferences. 

The  new  recruits  will  come  to  view  more  or  less  in 
future  pages,  some  very  prominently. 

C.  S.  Macreading,  who  retired  to  the  local  ranks,  had 
been  in  the  itinerancy  in  New  England  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  In  the  spring  or  summer  of  1856 
he  located,  came  to  Wisconsin,  and  was  employed  as  a  sup- 
ply in  Spring  Street  Church,  Milwaukee,  until  the  ensuing 
session  of  our  Conference,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the 
resignation  of  Milton  Rowley,  who  had  also  been  a  supply 
there  during  the  former  part  of  the  year. 

Mr.  Macreading  was  readmitted  to  our  Conference  in 
1856,  and  was  continued  in  the  pastorate  of  that  Church 
for  two  more  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  located. 
A  few  months  after,  he  withdrew  from  the  Church  with 
which  he  had  long  been  identified,  and  joined  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  being  admitted  thereto  as  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  on  his  certificate  of  location. 

For  some  time  a  dissatisfaction  with  our  itinerant  sys- 
tem had  been  growing  upon  him.  He  finally  concluded 
that,  after  "  allowing  others  to  look  up  his  appointments 
for  twenty-seven  years,  he  was  capable  of  doing  that  work 
himself."  A  few  weeks  of  trial  in  the  new  work  of  "can- 
didating,"  impressed  him  with  the  fact  that  ministers  of 
other  Churches  can  not  select  their  fields  of  labor  at  will. 
He  soon  saw  his  mistake,  returned  to  the  Church  of  his  early 
choice,  and  was  employed  as  a  supply  at  Belvidere,  Dl., 
where,  before  the  year  closed,  he  was  called  to  his  reward. 
Mr.   Macreading   was   an   able  preacher,  a  frank,   noble, 

15 


178  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

generous  man;  but  these  good  qualities  were  discounted 
by  strong  impulses,  which  fact  explains  the  unwise  step 
described.  He  frankly  admitted  his  error,  and  accused 
himself  more  severely  than  his  brethren  did. 

J.  W.  Donaldson  was  admitted  on  trial  in  1854,  had 
been  ordinarily  successful,  and  now  deemed  it  best  for 
him  to  enter  the  Congregational  ministry.  For  this  pur- 
pose he  withdrew  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Wm.  Stevens,  who  had  been  a  few  years  in  the  Con- 
ference, closed  his  career  among  us  quite  dishonorably. 

Of  the  eleven  who  were  transferred  to  other  Confer- 
ences, seven  were  in  the  Norwegian  work,  and  no  special 
account  of  them  can  here  be  given. 

John  Nolan  took  his  place  among  us  in  1850,  acquit- 
ted himself  well  in  several  appointments,  had  been  on  the 
list  of  superannuates  for  two  years,  and  now,  having  re- 
cuperated, came  into  the  effective  ranks,  was  transferred 
to  West  Wisconsin  Conference,  and  appointed  to  the 
charge  of  Mineral  Point  Seminary.  He  had  served  the 
Church  in  that  place  as  pastor  for  two  years,  and  his  re- 
turn in  this  new  relation  indicated  the  esteem  in  which 
he  was  held. 

J.  C.  Aspinwall  was  a  veteran.  For  many  years  he 
was  an  itinerant  minister  of  considerable  mark  in  New 
England,  and  two  years  in  Wisconsin  Conference,  his  ap- 
pointments being  Fall  River  and  Appleton.  From  the  latter 
place  he  was  removed,  by  transfer,  to  Madison,  in  West 
Wisconsin  Conference.  He  did  good  service  for  years, 
reached  a  ripe  old  age,  and  passed,  a  few  months  since,  to 
a  better  inheritance. 

J.  De  La  Mater  had  been  with  us  but  a  short  time. 
The  writer  knew  but  little  of  him,  and  is  not  able  to  give 
his  subsequent  history. 

T.  C.  Golden,  connected  with  the  Conference  since 
1851,  was  transferred  to  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference. 


ANNALS  OF  1859.  179 

Diiriug  this  year  a  new  church  edifice  in  Milwaukee, 
known  now  as  Summerfiekl  Church,  was  completed.  It 
was  built  by  the  Jackson  Street  Church  and  congregation. 
The  contract  for  its  erection  was  let  February  26,  1856, 
and  on  February  3,  1857,  the  lecture-room  was  dedicated. 
In  this  the  society  worshiped  till  April  4,  1858,  when 
the  auditorium  was  dedicated  by  Dr.  R.  S.  Foster,  now 
one  of  our  bishops.  It  stands  on  the  corner  of  Biddle  and 
Van  Buren  Streets ;  is  a  brick  edifice,  rather  imposing  in 
size,  has  little  architectural  beauty,  but  is  well  equipped 
with  needed  rooms,  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of  about 
six  hundred.  A  good  brick  parsonage  stands  in  the  rear 
of  the  church,  fronting  on  Biddle  Street.  The  present 
valuation  of  the  entire  property  is  832,000. 

It  seems  almost  invidious  to  mention  particular  names 
where  others  did  so  well ;  but  all  will  admit  that  great 
credit  is  due  Mitchell  Steever,  Geo.  H.  Austin,  and  K  P. 
Elmore  in  pushing  the  enterprise  to  completion.  The 
charge  has  been  for  years  one  of  the  most  prominent  in 
the  Conference. 

1859— FIRST  CONFERENCE. 

This  year  is  memorable  as  the  one  in  which  our  Con- 
ference held  two  sessions.  The  first  commenced  on  the 
20th  of  April,  at  Sheboygan  Falls ;  the  other,  October  13th, 
at  Whitewater.  Of  course  they  must  be  treated  sepa- 
rately. 

The  one  at  Sheboygan  Falls  gave  a  good  opportunity 
to  test  the  force  of  the  garden  argument,  already  alluded 
to ;  but  really  the  preachers  did  not  wait  for  that  to  de- 
velop its  strength.  There  was  no  railway  in  that  part  of 
the  State,  and  the  roads  were  almost  impassable  with  pri- 
vate conveyances.  So  great  was  the  dissatisfaction  that 
no  opposition  was  made  to  a  return  to  autumn  as  the  time 
for  our  annual  sessions. 


180  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Bishop  Osmon  C.  Baker  presided  at  the  session  at  She- 
boygan Falls.  He  was  elected  to  the  episcopacy  in  1852, 
and  this  was  his  first  visit  to  our  Conference.  A  more  ex- 
tended account  will  be  given  of  him  hereafter.  W.  G. 
Miller  was  the  principal  secretary,  and  S.  W.  Ford  and 
Geo.  Fellows,  assistants. 

A  new  and  a  very  unpleasant  circumstance  met  us  at 
this  Conference.  J.  W.  Wood,  presiding  elder  on  Janes- 
ville  District,  had  divorced  his  wife  and  married  another 
woman,  for  other  causes  than  the  one  specified  by  our 
Lord  as  the  only  ground  of  justification  for  such  action. 
Charges  had  been  preferred  ;  but,  with  consent  of  par- 
ties, their  prosecution  was  postponed  till  this  session  of 
the  Annual  Conference,  on  condition  that  he  should 
cease  to  exercise  his  ministerial  functions  till  then,  which 
he  did. 

The  bishop  called  W.  G.  Miller,  who  had  been  pastor 
at  Janesville  for  two  years,  to  represent  the  district  in  his 
council. 

In  due  time  Mr.  Wood  was  put  on  his  trial,  and,  after 
a  patient  hearing  of  the  whole  case,  he  was  expelled  from 
the  ministry  and  membership  of  the  Church  by  an  almost 
unanimous  vote. 

This  was  a  very  serious  transaction.  It  was  concluded 
at  an  evening  session.  Sadness  was  in  every  heart.  The 
darkness  without  symbolized  the  gloom  within.  Mr. Wood 
had  stood  well  among  his  brethren,  was  a  rising,  promising 
man  ;  and  could  the  Church  have  been  vindicated,  and  the 
proper  moral  eflfect  produced  by  sorrow  on  the  part  of  the 
Conference,  he  would  have  been  spared.  But  the  issue  was 
forced  upon  us,  and  we  were  compelled  either  to  maintain 
the  Scripture  standard,  or  practically  indorse  the  loose 
views  so  alarmingly  prevalent  relative  to  divorce  and  re- 
marriage. 


ANNALS  OF  1859.  jgl 

After  the  case  was  decided,  the  following  resolutions 
were  presented  and  adopted: 

"  1.  That  this  Conference  shall  deem  it  a  high  misdemeanor 
for  its  members  to  solemnize  matrimony  between  parties, 
t'ither  of  whom  has  a  husband  or  wife  not  divorced  for  the 
cause  specified  by  our  Lord  in  Matthew  v,  32,  and  x'x,  9. 

"  2.  Ttiat  in  administration,  all  such  marriages,  as  well  in 
the  laity  as  in  the  ministry,  should  be  treated  as  cases  of  im- 
morality. P.  S.  Bennett, 

"S.  C.  Thomas, 
"  W.  H.  Sampson." 

The  writer  offers  no  other  apology  for  giving  so  much 
space  to  this  affair,  than  the  principle  it  involves.  This 
was  firmly  maintained  by  the  Conference  against  a  strong 
current  of  sympathy,  and  equally  so  by  the  General  Con- 
ference, to  which  the  case  was  appealed. 

As  to  the  business  of  the  Conference,  there  was  nothing 
remarkable. 

Favorable  mention  was  made,  in  the  report  on  Education, 
of  our  rising  university,  of  Evansville  Seminary,  and  of 
the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute. 

Several  Conferences  had  recommended  changes  in  the 
General  Rule  on  Slavery ;  and  as  all  were  iu  the  line  of 
progress,  we  deemed  it  best  to  concur  in  them  all,  but 
gave  our  decided  preference  to  our  own,  viz.:  "The  buy- 
ing, selling,  or  holding  a  human  being  as  a  slave."  Its 
brevity,  comprehensiveness,  and  unmistakable  import  made 
it,  to  our  minds,  the  best  of  any  proposed. 

As  the  intoxicating  quality  of  lager-beer  had  been 
called  in  question,  the  Committee  on  Temperance  consid- 
ered the  matter,  and  reported  that  its  use  "as  a  beverage 
is  a  violation  of  the  General  Rule  in  our  Discipline  on 
the  subject  of  spirituous  liquors,"  and  this  view  of  the  case 
was  heartily  concurred  in  by  the  Conference. 

The  general  plan  of  the  work  underwent  a  slight  change. 


182  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Watertown  District  was  dropped  as  such,  and  its  charges 
distributed  among  other  districts. 

Four  presiding  elders  (including  J.  W.  Wood,  whose 
case  has  already  been  noted)  finished  their  full  terms. 
But  as  there  was  one  district  less,  only  three  new  men 
were  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancies.  These  were,  W.  G. 
Miller,  to  Milwaukee  District ;  C.  D.  Pillsbury,  to  Racine 
District;  and  Daniel  Stanbury,  to  Janesville  District. 

There  were  but  eight  new  pastoral  charges  formed  at 
this  Conference,  and  the  increase  of  effective  laborers  was 
about  the  same ;  but  the  reports  showed  a  total  increase 
in  the  ministry  and  laity  of  1,269. 

J.  M.  S.  Maxson  had  died  during  the  year,  and  also 
the  wife  of  Rev.  S.  W.  Martin. 

We  had  not  previously  published  the  obituaries  of 
ministers'  wives  in  our  Minutes;  but  it  seemed  eminently 
proper  to  do  so,  and  the  custom  inaugurated  this  year  has 
continued  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Maxson  was  received  on  trial  in  1850,  continued 
seven  years  in  the  active  work  at  Omro,  Fall  River,  Grove 
Street  (Milwaukee),  Oconomowoc,  Rosendale,  and,  in  May 
1848,  he  was  appointed  to  Ripon,  w^here,  on  the  nine- 
teenth day  of  the  next  month,  he  ceased  almost  at  once 
to  work  and  live,  at  the  age  of  thirty-six. 

Mrs.  Martin  died  on  the  21st  of  March,  1859,  after 
bearing  "  with  Christian  fortitude  and  cheerfulness"  the 
burdens  incident  to  our  itinerancy  for  nearly  twelve  years. 
"A  few  hours  previous  to  her  departure  she  appeared  se- 
rene and  joyful,  and  passed  away,  shouting  '  Glory ! 
Glory !  Glory !'  to  her  home  in  heaven." 

1859— SECOND  CONFERENCE. 

As  already  stated,  two  sessions  of  our  Conference  were 
held  this  year.  The  second  was  in  Whitewater,  com- 
mencing on  the  13th  of  October,  less  by  one  week  than 
six  months  from  the  first. 


ANNALS  OF  1859,  183 

It  will  be  noticed  also  that  this  fraction  of  a  calendar 
year  was  in  a  season  when  few  special  revival  services  are 
usually  held.  During  the  preceding  winter  many  had 
been  brought  under  the  watch-care  of  the  Church  as  pro- 
bationers, and  the  figures  indicate  a  remarkably  small 
number  that  bore  the  process  of  sifting,  as  there  was  a  de- 
crease of  944.  There  was  an  increase  in  the  full  mem- 
bership of  153,  thus  reducing  the  loss  to  791.  Taking  the 
two  fractional  years  as  one — which  is  the  only  fair  way 
to  do — we  find  an  increase  of  members  and  probationers 
of  359. 

For  the  third  time  this  Conference  enjoyed  the  presi- 
dency of  Bishop  Ames.  S.  W.  Ford  was  elected  secre- 
tary, and  Geo.  Fellows  and  R.  M.  Beach,  assistants. 

A  new  and  needed  office  seems  to  have  been  created  at 
this  Conference ;  namely,  a  statistical  secretaryship.  It 
was  filled  by  H.  C.  Tilton,  with  M.  Himebaugh  as  as- 
sistant. 

So  brief  had  been  the  Conference  year  that  but  little 
business  had  accumulated. 

The  action  relative  to  the  benevolent  and  literary  insti- 
tutions was  much  as  at  the  next  preceding  Conference. 

On  the  absorbing  subject  of  slavery  we  maintained  our 
well-chosen  position,  concurred  in  all  the  proposed  changes 
that  indicated  progress,  and  adhered  tenaciously  to  the  rule 
proposed  to  the  other  Conferences  four  years  before. 

No  one  of  the  preachers  had  died ;  but  the  wife  of 
Professor  L.  L.  Knox  had  been  called  to  her  rest.  She 
was  a  woman  of  rare  endowments  and  culture.  A  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Elias  Bo  wen,  D.  D.,  of  Oneida  Conference,  she 
inherited  much  of  his  strong  mental  qualities  and  decision 
of  character.  She  graduated  from  Oneida  Conference  Sem- 
inary in  1841.  Soon  after  this  she  became  preceptress  of  the 
Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary,  in  which  Rev.  L.  L.  Knox 
was  a  professor.     The  last  exercise  of  the  exhibition  at  the 


184  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

close  of  the  year — though  not  printed  in  the  program — was 
their  union  in  the  bands  of  matrimony.  Her  last  earthly 
home  was  in  Appleton,  her  husband  being  a  professor  in 
the  university  there.  Her  present  home,  we  trust,  is  in 
one  of  the  "  many  mansions." 

As  the  reader  has  noticed,  the  work  had  not  expanded 
much  in  any  respect  during  this  short  year.  But  since 
our  session  in  1855  there  had  been  a  marked  increase, 
especially  if  we  take  into  account  the  fact  that  nearly  one- 
half  our  ministers  and  laymen  w^ere  set  off  that  year  into 
other  Conferences,  as  already  noted. 

The  following  facts  will  give  some  idea  of  this  expansion 
in  the  ministry.  In  1855  we  elected  five  delegates  to  the 
General  Conference,  to  be  held  in  May  following.  At 
that  time  the  basis  of  representation  was  so  changed  as  to 
allow  but  one  delegate  to  every  forty-five  members  of  an 
Annual  Conference  in  full  connection.  Previously  the  basis 
was  one  to  every  twenty-four — a  difference  of  twenty-one. 
Yet  notwithstanding  this,  and  the  division  of  the  Confer- 
ence, we  found  ourselves  entitled  to  the  same  number  as 
in  1855.  The  delegates  were  W.  G.  Miller,  I.  M.  Leihy, 
S.  C.  Thomas,  Edward  Cook,  and  P.  S.  Bennett.  Re- 
serves— H.  W.  Frink  and  H.  Requa. 


IMr.    R.    p.    ELMORE. 


ANNALS  OF  1860.  185 


CHAPTER  VII. 
I 860-1. 

ON  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  September,  of  this  year, 
our  Conference  convened  in  Janesville  for  its  four- 
teenth annual  session.  For  the  second  time  Bishop  Scott 
presided  over  the  body,  and  for  the  second  time  the  Con- 
ference was  held  in  the  enterprising  city  just  named.  For 
the  third  time  S.  W.  Ford  was  elected  secretary ;  K.  M. 
Beach  and  J.  C.  Dana  were  his  assistants.  M.  Himebaugh 
was  statistical  secretary,  with  R.  C.  Parsons  as  assistant. 

The  business  of  the  Conference  was  done  about  as 
usual. 

Dr.  Edward  Cook,  for  the  last  tw^o  years  pastor  of 
Summerfield  Church,  Milwaukee,  had  been  re-elected  pres- 
ident of  Lawrence  University.  It  was  the  understanding, 
however,  that  he  should  devote  the  year  to  the  financial 
interests  of  the  institution,  and  that  Professor  Mason 
should  act  as  president. 

Co-operative  action  was  pledged  to  the  Evansville  Sem- 
inary and  the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute.  To  the  latter  the 
Conference  committed  itself  more   fully  than  ever  before. 

The  anti-slavery  agitation  had  for  years  been  forcing 
itself  upon  the  public  mind.  It  began  in  the  Eastern 
States  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  before  this  period. 
The  attention  of  our  Church  was  especially  called  to  it, 
about  1836,  by  the  discussions  in  the  General  Conference 
held  that  year.  Many  of  our  "  chief  ministers,"  honest 
and   earnest  in  their  zeal  for  the  peace  of  the  Church, 


186  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

sought  to  smother  the  rising  flame.  It  was  impossible. 
Every  such  attempt  led  to  a  more  thorough  investigation, 
a  better  understanding  of  the  horrible  system  of  slavery, 
and  of  the  relation  of  our  Church  to  it. 

The  subject  began  to  be  discussed  everywhere — through 
the  press,  on  the  rostrum,  in  the  pulpit — and  it  soon  be- 
came evident  that  an  *'  irrepressible  conflict"  was  upon  us. 
It  found  its  way  into  the  United  States  Congress,  and  be- 
came a  disturbing  factor  in  National  politics.  A  remark- 
able circumstance  about  it  was  that  the  very  bodies  that 
tried  the  hardest  to  quiet  the  agitation  did  the  most  to 
promote  it. 

Slaveholders  took  offense  at  J.  Q.  Adams  for  his  manly 
determination  to  defend  the  rights  of  all,  and  sought  to  expel 
him  from  the  House  of  Representatives.  His  masterly  de- 
fense, which  occupied  several  days  and  was  published  in 
the  Congresswnal  Globe,  was  an  earthquake  shock  to  the 
Nation. 

The  General  Conference  of  1836  discountenanced  all 
agitation  of  the  subject ;  yet  at  the  very  next  meeting  of 
that  body,  in  1840,  they  passed  a  resolution  to  the  effect 
that  in  a  Church  trial  a  colored  member  should  not  testify 
against  a  white  member.  This  sent  a  thrill  of  indignation 
far  and  wide,  and  awoke  many  to  a  realization  of  the 
growing  evil  that  had  crept  into  our  Zion.  So  also  in 
other  cases  that  a  want  of  space  forbids  to  mention. 

Nothing  intensified  and  crystallized  anti-slavery  senti- 
ment like  the  enactment  of  the  Fugitive-slave  Law  of 
1850,  and  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Act  of  1854,  already 
noticed. 

A  political  party  had  already  been  formed  to  antago- 
nize the  slave-power.  It  was  known  as  the  Liberty  party 
in  1840  and  1844,  as  the  Free-soil  party  in  1848,  as  the 
Free  Democracy  in  1852,  as  the  Republican  party  in  1856, 
and  so  to  the  present  time. 


A  NNA  LS  OF  1860.  187 

While  our  General  Conference  of  1860  was  in  session 
in  Buffalo,  New  York,  the  National  Repubhcan  Conven- 
tion put  in  nomination,  for  President  of  the  United  States, 
Abraham  Lincoln,  who  was  elected  in  the  November 
following. 

If  the  pending  election  did  not  intensify  the  excitement 
of  the  General  Conference  on  the  slavery  question,  it 
surely  did  not  allay  it.  A  committee  was  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  one  from  each  Annual  Conference,  as  at  the 
previous  General  Conference,  to  whom  all  communications 
relating  to  the  subject  of  slavery  were  referred.  W.  G. 
Miller  was  the  member  from  our  Conference.  Calvin 
Kingsley  was  chairman.  He  had  done  very  effective 
w^ork  for  the  cause.  At  the  General  Conference  of  1852 
lie  contended  earnestly  for  advanced  action  against  a  strong 
conservative  and  semi-proslavery  current ;  and  as  he  saw 
himself  overpowered,  he  said:  "I  will  be  heard  on  this 
subject  at  some  time."  Prophetic  words!  The  time  had 
now  come.  A  strong  report  was  presented  to  the  General 
Conference  on  the  16th  of  May,  by  the  chairman,  read  in 
a  clear  voice,   and  with  modest  yet  commanding  dignity. 

It  was  deemed  best  to  recommend  but  a  slight  verbal 
change  in  the  General  Rule  on  Slavery,  and  thereby  to 
make  it  express  no  more  or  less  than  it  was  believed  by 
many  that  our  fathers  meant  by  its  adoption.  This  change 
was  to  add  the  word  "holding,"  and  to  substitute  "or" 
for  "and."  It  would  then  read:  "The  buying,  selling, 
or  holding  of  men,  women,  or  children,  with  an  intention 
to  enslave  them."  The  report  also  recommended  mir 
'present  ^^ Section  on  Slavery."  It  is  here  reproduced,  for  the 
benefit  of  those  who  have  not  a  copy  of  our  Discipline : 

"Question — What  shall  be  done  for  the  extirpation  of  the 
evil  of  slavery  ? 

"Answer — We  declare  that  we  are  as  much  as  ever  con- 
vinced of  the  great  evil  of  slavery.     We  believe  that  the  buy- 


188  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

ing,  selling,  or  holding  of  human  beings,  as  chattels,  is  con- 
trary to  the  laws  of  God  and-  nature,  inconsistent  with  the 
Golden  Rule,  and  with  that  Rule  in  our  Discipline  which  re- 
quires all  who  desire  to  remain  among  us  to  '  do  no  harm,  and 
to  avoid  evil  of  every  kind.'  We  therefore  affectionately  ad- 
monish all  our  preachers  and  people  to  keep  themselves  pure 
from  this  great  evil,  and  to  seek  its  extirpation  by  all  lawful 
and  Christian  means." 

A  minority  report  was  also  presented,  opposing  any 
change  in  the  Discipline  on  the  subject.  Both  reports  lay 
on  the  table  till  the  23d,  when  the  majority  report  was 
called  up  for  action.  Granville  Moody,  of  the  Cincinnati 
Conference,  opened  the  discussion,  which  was  continued 
by  ten  others  for  several  days.  Much  other  business  was 
done  in  the  meantime.  On  the  29th  of  May  a  vote  was 
taken  on  the  adoption  of  the  proposed  new  General  Rule, 
138  voting  for,  and  74  against  it.  Thus  it  failed  by  17 
of  the  required  two-thirds  majority. 

The  discussion  continued  on  the  adoption  of  the  pro- 
posed new  chapter  till  the  31st,  when  it  was  carried  by  a 
vote  of  155  for,  and  58  against  it,  being  48  more  than 
the  requisite  majority.  In  the  entire  contest,  on  all  the 
side  issues  as  well  as  on  the  main  question,  our  delegation 
was  a  unit,  all  voting  for  the  most  stringent  measures  pro- 
posed to  extirpate  slavery  from  the  Church. 

Wisconsin  Conference  was  also  represented  in  the  dis- 
cussion. 

The  excitement  was  high,  and  it  was  difficult  to  obtain 
the  floor.  One  of  our  delegates,  however,  succeeded,  and 
spoke  in  favor  of  the  majority  report,  under  three  propo- 
sitions, namely : 

I.  The  report  clearly  expresses  the  sentiment  of  the 
Church  on  the  subject. 

II.  The  report  indicates  the  very  line  of  conduct 
which  our  border  brethren  have  all  along  declared  they 
pursue. 


ANNALS  OF  1S60.  189 

III.  The  aggressive  character  of  slavery  demands  its 
adoption.  ^^ 

At  the  session  of  our  Conference  now  under  considera- 
tion, the  action  of  the  General  Conference  on  this  subject 
was  heartily  approved.  Though  not  all  that  ^ve  desired, 
it  was  decided  progress,  and,  as  such,  very  encouraging. 

Turning  our  attention  to  the  general  plan  of  the 
work,  we  see  but  little  essential  change.  The  seven  dis- 
tricts continue  about  as  the  year  before;  but  on  four  of 
them  there  are  new  incumbents.  Daniel  Stanbury,  in 
charge,  the  last  year,  of  Janesville  District,  had  been 
prostrated  by  paralysis,  and  H.  C.  Tilton  was  appointed 
as  his  successor ;  I.  Searls  succeeded  A.  Hamilton  on  Bea- 
ver Dam  District;  M.  Himebaugh,  J.  H.  Jenne,  on  Ap- 
pleton  District ;  and  R.  S.  Hay  ward,  S.  L.  Brown,  on  Ste- 
ven's Point  District. 

There  had  been  no  deaths  of  members  of  the  Confer- 
ence ;  but  a  distinguished  local  elder.  Rev.  \Vm.  Fox, 
who  had  rendered  much  valuable  service  as  a  supply  and 
in  other  relations,  had  passed  to  his  reward.  The  Confer- 
ence, in  view  of  his  services,  made  the  following  minute : 

''Whereas,  Our  dear  and  venerable  brother,  Rev. 
Wm.  Fox,  a  local  elder,  who  '  helped  us  much  in  the 
Lord,'  has,  during  the  past  year,  exchanged  mortality  for 
life;  therefore, 

''Resolved,  That  we  cherish  a  grateful  recollection  of  his 
useful  and  self-denying  labors  in  building  up  the  cause 
of  the  Redeemer  among  us,  and  that  we  tender  our 
Christian  condolence  to  his  afflicted  friends." 


*The  reader  may  deem  the  foregoing  a  digression  from 
the  proper  trend  of  this  history.  Perhaps  it  is.  Yet  in  view 
of  the  absorbing  interest  then  felt  in  the  subject,  and  of  the 
difficulty  those  who  now  desire  to  become  acquainted  with  the 
facts  may  have  to  find  reliable  sources  of  information,  the 
writer  has  felt  justified  in  presenting  them  here. 


190  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Five  located  at  this  Conference;  but  as  two  of  them 
were  afterwards  readmitted,  they  need  not  be  noticed  here. 
J.  H.  Hazeltine  was  received  on  trial  in  1852,  and  had 
acquitted  himself  well  in  the  work  for  eight  years.  A. 
Griswold  was  received  one  year  later.  He  was  zealous 
and  quite  successful.  After  his  location,  he  was  em- 
ployed at  different  times  as  a  supply.  R.  M.  Beach  came 
to  us  from  an  Eastern  Conference  in  1856.  He  was  a  re- 
liable man,  a  fair  preacher,  and  always  commanded 
respect. 

The  entire  lay  and  ministerial  force  for  beginning  an- 
other year's  work  was  11,823,  an  increase  of  318. 

Nine  new  churches  had  been  erected,  and  seven  par- 
sonages. 

This  year  our  conference  was  first  represented  in  the 
missionary  work  in  the  Orient  by  the  appointment  of  I.  L. 
Hauser  missionary  to  India. 

1861. 

This  year  the  Conference  met  the  second  time  in  Fond 
du  Lac,  and  the  second  time  Bishop  Osman  C.  Baker  took 
the  chair  as  our  presiding  officer. 

The  reader  may  have  noticed  a  similar  coincidence  in 
the  last  session. 

S.  W.  Ford  was  elected  secretary,  with  R.  M.  Beach 
and  H.  Colman  as  assistants,  and  R.  C.  Parsons  statistical 
secretary. 

The  session  commenced  on  the  18th  of  September. 

The  preceding  year  had  been  one  of  immense  agitation, 
not  only  within  our  bounds,  but  throughout  the  Nation. 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  the  anti-slavery 
agitation  and  its  increasing  intensity.  A  few  additional 
words  will  place  the  subject  in  a  more  intelligible  light, 
before  young  readers  especially,  and  better  prepare  them 
for  what  follows.     The  object  of  the  Liberty  party,  organ- 


ANNALS  OF  1861.  191 

ized  in  1840,  was  to  awaken  the  whole  country  to  the 
enormity  of  slavery,  and  to  secure,  as  soon  as  possible,  the 
abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia  and  in  the 
Territories  over  which  Congress  had  jurisdiction ;  and  also 
the  suppression  of  the  slave-trade  between  the  States  of 
the  Union.  These  were  deemed  important  steps  to  the 
final  destruction  of  the  system.  The  party  retained  its 
name  and  purpose  in  the  next  Presidential  campaign,  with 
the  same  standard-bearer.  In  1848  it  took  the  name  of 
the  "Free-soil  Party,"  with  Martin  Van  Buren  for  its 
Presidential  nominee.  In  1852,  John  P.  Hale  was  the 
candidate  of  the  same  party  under  a  slightly  changed  name. 

Soon  after  this,  an  act  was  passed  by  Congress,  in  utter 
violation  of  a  solemn  compact  made  in  1819,  known  as  the 
Missouri  Compromise.  By  that  compact  slavery  was  to  be 
forever  excluded  from  all  new  States  and  Territories  formed 
north  of  36°  30'  north  latitude.  The  Act  referred  to 
opened  all  unorganized  territory  to  the  introduction  of 
slavery  if  the  people  so  willed.  This  tended  to  awaken 
the  Nation  to  the  aggressive  power  of  slavery  more  than 
the  Fugitive-slave  Law  of  1850. 

The  anti-slavery  elements  from  all  parties  soon  con- 
solidated into  the  "  Republican  Party,"  and  John  C.  Fre- 
mont was  its  first  candidate  for  President.  This  was  in 
1856.  In  1860  it  triumphed  in  the  election  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  as  President  of  the  United  States. 

This  greatly  enraged  the  South.  It  was  understood 
there  to  mean  the  death  of  their  cherished  institution — 
Negro  Slavery.  To  protect  this,  eleven  States  seceded 
from  the  Union,  formed  a  "Southern  Confederacy,"  and 
elected  Jefferson  Davis  their  President.  He  was  inau- 
gurated February  18,  1861,  two  weeks  before  the  inau- 
guration of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Meanwhile  the  Confederates  were  making  warlike 
preparations,  and  soon  commenced  open  hostilities. 


192  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

An  extra  session  of  Congress  was  ordered,  and  seventy- 
five  thousand  troops  were  called  for  by  the  President,  to 
quell  the  rebellious  insurrection.  To  these,  others  were 
soon  added,  and  the  whole  country  was  convulsed  with  a 
gigantic  civil  war. 

In  these  circumstances  our  Conference  met  in  1861.  A 
committee,  unknown  in  our  former  history,  was  now  de- 
manded. It  was  called  a  '^  Committee  on  the  State  of  the 
Country."  The  comnlittee,  of  which  J.  H.  Jenne  was 
chairman,  presented  a  strong  report,  fully  sustaining  the 
Government,  and  pledging  co-ojieration  in  suppressing  the 
Rebellion,  which  was  enthusiastically  adopted. 

The  following  extract  will  show  the  spirit  of  the  Con- 
ference and  the  reasons  for  their  action : 

"  1.  We  regard  the  pending  war,  waged  by  some  of  the 
States  of  this  Union  against  the  Federal  Government,  as  grow- 
ing out  of  disloyalty  to  truth  and  hatred  of  justice,  leading 
them  to  desire  a  larger  liberty  for  wickedness  than  is  allowed 
them  in  a  loyal  relation  to  the  Nation.  The  following  reasons 
justify  this  coQclusion:  1.  They  have  never  been  restrained 
by  the  Government,  in  any  form  or  degree,  from  such  pursuit 
of  life,  liberty,  or  happiness  as  is  consistent  with  the  rights  of 
others.  2.  They  have  been  protected  most  effectually  in  all 
their  lawful  interests  and  pursuits.  3.  The  Government  has 
denied  them  nothing  which  it  has  accorded  to  other  citizens. 
4.  As  compared  with  the  Free  States,  they  have  shared  in  large 
excess  the  offices,  honors,  and  pecuniary  subsidies  of  the  Gov- 
ernment. Relatively,  they  have  been  more  supported  than 
supporting.  5.  Still  further,  to  meet  a  peculiarity  in  their  case, 
growing  out  of  a  great  social  wrong  among  them,  the  Govern- 
ment has  discriminated  in  their  favor  by  an  exceptional  ad- 
ministration, limiting  and  restraining  the  great  principles  of 
equal  justice  with  respect  to  them,  while  the  same  have  uni- 
versal application  with  respect  to  all  other  citizens. 

"  Inasmuch,  then,  as  in  the  Union  they  have  all  the  aids 
and  securities  they  can  have,  or  ought  to  have  anywhere  in 
the  lawful  pursuit  of  lawful  ends;  and  inasmuch,  also,  as  they 
have  had,  by  courtesy  and  favor,  both  toleration  and  support 
from  Government,  beyond  the  claims  of  equity  and  natural 


ANNALS  OF  1861.  I93 

justice — and  somewhat  to  the  reproach  of  both — they  can  have 
no  other  reason  for  this  revolt  than  to  secure  a  larger  liberty 
for  unrighteousness.  This  rebellion,  therefore,  is  not  only 
against  this  Nation,  but  is  treason  to  the  entire  race  and  to 
Heaven." 

"A  war  meeting"  was  held  in  the  Conference-room 
during  the  session,  at  which  several  patriotic  speeches  were 
made.  Enthusiasm  reached  a  high  point.  One  brother, 
who  was  evidently  so  excited  that  he  hardly  knew  whether 
he  was  fighting  rebels  at  the  front,  or  in  a  ministerial 
gathering  in  Wisconsin,  declared  he  was  "  perfectly  cool." 

The  action  of  the  General  Conference  of  1860  in  rela- 
tion to  slavery  has  already  been  described.  It  produced 
considerable  agitation  and  dissatisfaction  in  the  "Border 
Conferences."  Some  of  them  declared  they  could  not 
carry  into  their  administration  the  requirements  of  the  new 
chapter.  The  East  Baltimore  Conference  proposed  that 
each  Annual  Conference  should  be  empowered  to  make  its 
own  regulations  on  the  subject;  and  to  effect  this,  and  per- 
haps other  ends  favorable  to  their  locality,  incipient  steps 
were  taken  to  call  an  extra  session  of  the  General  Conference. 

Against  all  these  positions  our  Conference  took  une- 
quivocal ground,  declaring  not  only  in  favor  of  the  new 
chapter,  but  also  ''that  there  can  be  administration  under 
said  chapter  in  all  Conferences  in  which  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  has  a  moral  right  to  send  her  money 
and  her  men ; "  and  that  to  grant  the  request  of  East  Bal- 
timore Conference  "would  be  a  shift  of  the  responsibility, 
while  it  would  roll  all  the  guilt  that  might  follow  upon 
the  whole  Church." 

Though  the  slavery  question  and  its  culmination  in  the 
Civil  War  had  become  the  absorbing  one,  a  new  departure 
was  proposed  in  our  war  with  the  liquor-traffic  in  the 
adoption  of  the  following : 

"That  H.  C.  Tilton  be,  and  is  hereby,  appointed  to 
16 


194  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

confer  with  the  governor  of  the  State,  most  respectfully 
requesting  his  excellency  to  appoint  a  committee  of  seven 
to  institute  a  thorough  temperance  investigation  through- 
out the  State;  the  duty  of  this  committee  to  be  to  ap- 
point sub-committees  in  every  county  in  the  State  to 
collect  facts  and  statistics  as  follows:  1.  The  number  of 
liquor-shops  licensed  and  unlicensed.  2.  The  number  of 
habitual  drinkers.  3.  The  number  of  families  suffering 
from  the  intemperance  of  their  connections.  4.  The  num- 
ber of  cases  of  delirium  tremens  and  serious  accidents  occa- 
sioned by  liquor-drinking.  5.  The  number  of  deaths, 
murders,  and  other  crimes  caused  by  intemperance.  6. 
Such  other  facts  as  may  aid  in  forming  an  estimate  of  this 
fearful  wrong.  The  sub-committees  to  report  the  results 
of  their  investigations  to  the  Central  Committee,  who  will 
compile  and  publish  them." 

An  effort  to  secure  a  committee  in  Congress  for  similar 
purposes  has  been  persistently  made  for  several  years  by 
the  National  Temperance  Society ;  but,  so  far,  the  liquor- 
power  has  prevented  success. 

It  will  be  seen  that  our  Conference  was  several  years 
in  advance  on  this  subject. 

R.  Z.  Mason,  for  some  years  a  professor  in  our  univer- 
sity, appears  this  year  as  president,  in  place  of  Edward 
Cook,  resigned.  As  financial  agent,  P.  S.  Bennett  suc- 
ceeded S.  C.  Thomas,  who  had  rendered  good  service  since 
1857.  Dr.  Cook  was  president  of  the  college  from  1853 
(the  year  the  collegiate  department  was  organized)  until 
1859,  when  he  resigned,  and  was  pastor  of  the  Summer- 
field  Church,  Milwaukee,  for  the  two  succeeding  years. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  in  this  calendar  year  two  Con- 
ference sessions  were  held.  In  1860  he  was  again  elected 
to  the  presidency  of  the  college,  but  it  was  understood 
that  this  relation  was  nominal,  and  that  Professor  Mason 
should  act  as  president,  while  he  should  devote  his  time  to 


ANNALS  OF  1861.  I95 

increase  the  endowment.  His  name  appears  in  our  records 
this  year  for  the  last  time.  He  subsequently  took  charge 
of  Claflin  University,  in  South  Carolina,  and,  after  doing 
grand  work  there  for  many  years,  closed  a  long  and  use- 
ful life. 

The  districts  remained  about  the  same  as  before,  and 
there  was  but  one  change  in  the  incumbents — T.  O.  Hol- 
lister  succeeded  J.  Anderson  on  the  Fond  du  Lac  District. 

In  an  early  day  immigration  furnished  an  important 
element  of  our  growth.  Now,  and  for  a  few  previous 
years,  the  tide  was  turning,  and  e^iigratiou  began  to  de- 
plete our  ranks.  The  effects  of  the  war  also,  in  this  respect, 
were  appearing.  It  is  not  strange,  therefore,  that  but 
seven  were  admitted  on  trial,  or  that  there  was  a  slight 
decrease  in  the  laity. 

There  was,  however,  a  gain  of  four  church  edifices  and 
five  parsonages,  with  .a  total  increase  in  their  valuation 
of  S8,795. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1861,  the  'Spring  Street  (Milwau- 
kee) Church  lost  their  house  of  worship  by  fire.  This  was 
their  second  calamity  of  that  kind  in  the  space  of  a  little 
more  than  seven  years.  Undaunted,  they  entered  upon 
the  work  of  erecting  another  on  the  same  lot,  similar  to 
the  second  one  built  by  them,  described  in  the  annals 
of  1843. 

Our  nominal  war  record  began  this  year  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  S.  L.  Brown  chaplain  of  the  Seventh  Regiment 
of  Wisconsin  Volunteers. 

Daniel  Stanbury,  who  appeared  once  or  twice  in 
the  Conference-room  at  our  last  session,  a  physical  wreck, 
had  passed  to  his  inheritance  beyond  the  vale.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  moral  worth — sincere,  devout,  earnest,  and 
strongly  attached  to  the  Church  of  his  choice.  He  died, 
honored  and  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him,  October  28, 
18b0,  a  few  days  after  the  close  of  our  last  session. 


196  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Three  of  the  preachers  were  bereft  of  their  wives  dur- 
ing the  year,  viz.:  S.  W.  Ford,  W.  H.  Sampson,  and  R. 
P.  Lawton. 

Mrs.  Ford,  after  a  protracted  and  severe  illness,  died 
in  Waupiin,  where  her  husband  was  pastor,  on  the  13th 
of  January,  1861.  For  about  fourteen  years  she  had  been 
her  husband's  faithful  companion  in  his  work.  "She  was 
of  modest,  retiring  habits,  her  piety  consistent  and  deep. 
She  died  in  great  peace." 

Mrs.  Sampson  was  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Julius  Field, 
one  of  our  pioneer  preachers.  She  was  a  person  of  fine 
literary  attainments.  She  had  been  preceptress  in  Amenia 
Seminary,  New  York,  and  had  also  occupied  other  re- 
sponsible positions.  She  was  amiable,  modest,  unassum- 
ing as  a  child.  After  adorning  her  husband's  home  for 
a  little  more  than  seven  years,  she  passed  to  abetter  home, 
August  27,  1861. 

Mrs.  Lawton  was  a  great  sufferer  for  many  years,  es- 
pecially during  her  husband's  ministry,  and  therefore  could 
render  him  but  little  active  assistance.  On  the  31st  of  July, 
1861,  her  physical  sufferings  terminated  in  death. 

Samuel  Watts,  L.  Hallock,  and  J.  Van  Voris — all 
good  men  and  true — located  this  year.  The  former  had 
been  in  the  work  since  1850.  He  settled  in  Appleton, 
where  he  lived  a  very  exemplary  life  till  January  28,  1889, 
when  he  was  suddenly  killed  by  a  train  of  cars.  The 
writer  has  no  knowledge  of  the  others  after  they  located. 


ANNALS  OF  186^.  197 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
'1862-3. 

THIS  year  the  Conference  met  in  Kenosha,  where,  in 
1848,  it  held  its  first  session.  The  preachers  came 
together  with  unusual  sadness.  The  war-cloud  spanned 
the  horizon,  and  it  was  very  dark  ;  faith  only  could  discern 
even  a  silver  lining. 

Bishop  Janes,  who  was  with  us  for  the  third  time  as 
our  president,  opened  the  Conference  with  a  prayer  that 
will  never  be  forgotten.  He  seemed  almost  crushed  under 
the  terrible  outlook  ;  yet  he  took  such  a  firm  hold  of  God, 
of  his  promises,  of  his  attributes,  that  he  also  seemed  as- 
sured of  the  final  suppression  of  the  Rebellion.  In  both 
these  all  heartily  sympathized. 

The  session  began  on  the  first  day  of  October.  S.  AV. 
Ford  was  re-elected  secretary,  with  H.  Colman  and  Samuel 
Fallows  assistants.  R.  C.  Parsons  was  again  elected  sta- 
tistical secretary. 

An  inside  view  does  not  reveal  much  advance  in  this 
part  of  the  Church  militant.  Indeed,  the  Nation  militant 
engrossed  universal  attention,  and  doubtless  weakened 
many  lines  of  religious  work.  Still,  in  some  respects  we 
made  a  little  progress,  and,  on  the  whole,  about  held 
our  owai. 

Only  four  were  received  on  trial  in  the  Conference. 
Three,  however,  were  readmitted  from  the  local  ranks,  so 
our  recruits  were  about  the  same  as  the  year  before. 

At  the  previous  session   one  of  our  ministers  had  en- 


198  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE 

tered  the  army — S.  L.  Brown — as  noted  already.  But  in 
course  of  the  year  H.  C.  Tilton  accepted  the  chaplaincy  of 
the  Thirteenth  Kegiment  of  Wisconsin  Volunteers,  went 
into  the  service,  was  taken  severely  ill,  resigned  his  com- 
mission, regained  his  health,  and  re-entered  the  regular 
ministerial  w^ork  at  this  Conference.  Few  have  so  varied 
an  experience  in  one  year. 

The  general  plan  of  the  work  was  about  the  same  as 
the  previous  year.  But  two  new  pastoral  charges  were 
added.  The  districts  were  the  same,  and  manned  the 
same,  except  that  W.  H.  Sampson  succeeded  W.  G.  Miller 
on  Milwaukee,  -and  H.  C.  Tilton,  C.  D.  Pillsbury  ou  Ra- 
cine District. 

Two  of  our  number — Thomas  White  and  J.  M.  Snow — 
were  removed  by  death.  So  also  was  the  wife  of  Rev. 
Cyrus  Scammon. 

Mr.  White  was  received  on  trial  in  1857,  preached 
about  two  years  with  great  promise  of  usefulness ;  then, 
in  failing  health,  he  removed  to  California,  in  hope  of 
averting  that  fatal  disease,  the  consumption.  It  was  too 
late.  He  died,  "triumphing  in  the  same  Savior  he 
had  so  successfully  preached  to  others,"  in  September, 
1861. 

Mr,  Snow  was  one  of  our  pioneer  preachers,  entering 
the  work  in  1838.  In  1853  he  became  disconnected  with 
the  Conference.  He  was  subsequently  readmitted,  and 
"  died  in  great  peace,  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  Illinois, 
April  30,  1862." 

Mary  Y.  Scammon  died  in  Kenosha,  where  her  hus- 
band was  at  the  time  stationed,  September  24,  1862. 
Since  1837  she  had  been  an  itinerant's  wife.  "Her  piety 
was  uniform  and  consistent,  shedding  a  glow  of  sunshine 
on  all  around  her.  She  lived  a  useful  life,  beloved  by  all, 
and  died  a  triumphant  death." 

Our  war  record  was  continued  by  the  appointment  of 


ANNALS  OF  1S62.  199 

two  chaplains — C.  D.  Pillsbury  to  the  Twenty-second,  and 
Samuel  Fallows  to  the  Thirty-second  Kegiment  of  Wiscon- 
sin Volunteers. 

The  reports  showed  a  small  increase  in  the  member- 
ship, but  a  decrease  in  most  of  the  benevolences.  Such 
are  the  effects  of  war. 

It  had  now  become  apparent  to  many  minds  that  either 
slavery  or  the  Federal  Union  must  be  destroyed.  So  our 
Conference  action  on  the  slavery  question,  as  last  year, 
was  merged  into  that  on  the  "  state  of  the  country."  The 
report  of  the  committee  on  this  absorbing  subject,  as 
adopted  by  the  Conference,  was  full  of  patriotic  and  loyal 
assurances.  President  Lincoln  had  a  short  time  before 
publicly  declared  his  intention  to  issue  a  proclamation  of 
emancipation,  as  a  w^ar  measure,  in  all  States  and  parts  of 
States  in  an  attitude  of  rebellion  at  a  specified  date.  The 
Conference  fully  indorsed  this,  and  expressed  strong 
*'  faith  in  the  ultimate  triumph  of  human  rights." 

Though  the  country  was  in  such  a  ferment  of  excite- 
ment, the  Conference  did  not  forget  those  interests  that 
conserve  the  Nation  and  the  world  in  times  of  peace.  It 
planned  for  the  cause  of  education  on  a  larger  scale  than 
ever  before,  by  providing  for  the  formation  of  a  Conference 
Educational  Society.  This  seemed  to  promise  well,  but  it 
failed  to  meet  expectations. 

The  temperance  cause  was  not  overlooked,  though  it 
was  impossible  to  awaken  the  enthusiasm  over  it  that  had 
existed  in  former  years. 

The  benevolences  also  were  cared  for,  notwithstanding 
a  slight  diminution  in  collections. 

The  General  Conference  of  1860  ordered  that  the  ques- 
tion of  lay  representation  to  that  body  should  be  submitted 
to  the  male  members  of  the  Church  for  their  approval  or 
disapproval ;  and  also  that  a  vote  should  be  taken  in  each 
Annual  Conference  on  the  same  question.     The  vote  of 


200  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

the  laity  in  our  territory    was    very   small.     It   was   re- 
ported thus: 

For  lay  representation, 429 

Against  lay  representation, 486 

Majority  against  lay  representation,  ......    57 

The  Conference  voted  as  follows : 

For  lay  representation, 35 

Against  lay  representation, 59 

Majority  against  lay  rex^resentation, 21 

1863. 

Waukesha  was  this  year  favored  with  the  Conference 
for  the  second  time,  and  Bishop  Scott  appeared  as  its 
president  for  the  third  time. 

The  session  began  October  1st,  the  same  as  last  year. 
S.  W.  Ford  was  elected  secretary  for  the  sixth  time ;  this 
year  his  assistants  were  S.  Fallows,  R.  M.  Beach,  and 
George  Fellows. 

The  war  was  still  raging,  but  the  prospect  for  the  Na- 
tion's triumph  was  much  brighter  than  the  year  before. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1863,  President  Lincoln 
issued  a  proclamation  as  commander-in-chief  of  naval  and 
military  forces  of  the  United  States,  by  which  all  slaves  in 
all  territory  under  rebellion  became  free.  This  was  an 
event  long  desired  by  many,  and  it  was  hailed  with  enthu- 
siastic joy  in  all  loyal  circles.  Some  of  the  most  discerning 
thought  the  President  was  altogether  too  tardy  in  his  re- 
sort to  this  war  measure. 

On  the  thirty-first  day  of  August,  1861,  more  than  a 
year  before  the  President  became  impressed  with  the  neces- 
sity of  such  a  measure.  General  J.  C.  Fremont  felt  con- 
strained to  declare  all  the  slaves  owned  by  those  in  active 
rebellion  within  his  jurisdiction,  "free  men."  This  order 
was  so  modified  by  Mr.  Lincoln  as  to  be  ineffectual.     But 


ANNALS  OF  1863.  201 

now,  after  long,  sad  months  of  disaster,  he  awoke  to  a 
realization  of  the  situation  as  seen  by  the  equally  discern- 
ing and  less  conservative  Fremont. 

This  is  not  the  place  to  discuss  the  question  as  to  the 
President's  delay  in  issuing  the  Proclamation,  which  will 
ever  be  regarded  as  a  tit  companion  of  the  immortal 
Declaration  of  Independence.  It  is  enough  for  us  now 
that  it  came  in  time  to  save  the  Nation.  It  destroyed  one 
of  the  main  sources  of  rebel  strength — the  production  of 
supplies  and  care  for  the  families  of  those  in  armg.  Be- 
sides, many  of  the  freedmen  soon  became  soldiers  in  the 
Union  army,  and  did  valiant  service. 

The  moral  effect  also  of  this  measure  throughout  the 
loyal  portions  of  the  country  was  assuring.  Devout  people 
saw  the  hand  of  the  Invisible  in  it.  Nor  were  their  con- 
victions mocked  by  succeeding  events.  Thenceforth  nearly 
every  important  battle  resulted  in  a  Union  victory.  The 
most  notable  event,  probably,  was  the  capture  of  Vicks- 
burg,  on  the  4th  of  July,  1863. 

The  report  on  the  State  of  the  Country,  from  the 
vigorous  pen  of  C.  D.  Pillsbury,  was  enthusiastically 
adopted.  Among  many  other  good  things  it  declared  that 
"at  such  a  time  neutrality  is  treason,  silence  crime,  and 
inaction  unpardonable."  It  gratefully  indorsed  the  "  Proc- 
lamation" as  '' a  propitious  offering  to  a  justly  offended 
God,"  and  hailed  it  as  a  "  harbinger  of  some  coming  proc- 
lamation of  universal  peace." 

A  new  responsibility  was  rolled  upon  the  public  by  the 
Proclamation  of  Emancipation.  Millions  of  human  beings, 
who  had  been  cared  for  by  their  masters  as  they  had  cared 
for  their  horses  and  cattle,  were  thrown  upon  their  own 
resources.  They  needed  assistance  in  various  ways. 
Especially  did  they  need  instruction  in  morality  and  re- 
ligion.    This  the  Government  did  not  propose  to  give,  but 

17 


202  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Christian  philanthropy  flew  to  their  relief  in  the  formation 
of  what  was  called  ''  The  Western  Freedmen's  Aid  So- 
ciety." To  this  the  Conference  gave  its  indorsement,  and 
pledged  "hearty  co-operation  in  their  noble  work." 

The  report  on  Sunday-schools  takes  a  wider  range  than 
usual.  It  informs  us  that  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
had  an  increase  of  295,000  members;  that  of  our  Sunday- 
school  scholars  246,000  were  converted,  notwithstanding 
293  schools  were  broken  up  by  the  war ;  and  that  of  the 
Sunday-schools  in  Wisconsin  ''more  than  one-half  (aside 
from  Union  schools)  have  been  given  by  the  Great  Shep- 
herd into  the  bosom  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church." 
While  this  might  be  considered  a  cause  for  gratitude,  it  also 
showed  our  relative  responsibility. 

The  Conference  expressed  a  lively  interest  in  our  Church 
literature — giving  preference,  as  ever,  to  the  Northivestern 
Christian  Advocate  as  the  paper  for  our  locality.  It  took 
decided  ground  against  a  paper  called  the  Methodist  in  these 
words  :  "  This  paper,  originating  in  disappointed  ambition, 
coupled  with  a  desire  to  perpetuate  slavery  in  the  Church,  has 
been  from  the  first  arrayed  in  hostility  to  the  Christian  Ad- 
vocate and  Journal.  And  being  sustained  by  a  large  mon- 
eyed monopoly,  it  has  secured  the  patronage  of  many  in 
influential  positions,  and  thus  curtailed  the  circulation  of 
our  noble  official  journal." 

A  word  of  explanation  is  demanded.  "Baltimore  and 
the  Border,"  as  the  phrase  then  went,  were  greatly  dis- 
pleased by  the  adoption  of  the  new  chapter  on  Slavery. 
And  when,  in  addition.  Dr.  Edward  Thomson,  afterwards 
bishop,  was  elected  editor  of  our  leading  paper  over  their 
favorite  candidate,  they  showed  their  disloyalty  by  starting 
one  in  the  same  city  with  the  avowed  determination  on 
the  part  of  some,  if  not  all,  to  run  that  paper  under. 
This  was  detestable  in  every  point  of  view,  and  especially 


ANNALS  OF  186S.  203 

so   as   Dr.  Thomsou  was  a  very  conciliatory  man,  and  in 
all  respects  well  qualified  for  the  important  position. 

But  the  real  object  in  starting  the  Methodist  was  never 
made  very  conspicuous,  as  the  heavens  soon  became  lurid 
by  the  fires  of  the  Rebellion,  which  made  slavery  more 
and  more  a  subject  of  abhorrence  to  the  American  people. 
So,  to  give  a  respectable  excuse  for  living,  it  took  up  and 
championed  the  question  of  lay  delegation.  Thus  it  drew 
many  to  its  support.  So  far  as  is  known  to  the  writer, 
our  Conference  was  the  only  one  that,  by  formal  action, 
opposed  it. 

The  plan  of  our  work  and  the  ministerial  force  employed 
this  year  presents  less  change  than  any  previous  one.  The 
districts  and  their  incumbents  were  the  same  as  the  last 
year.  Only  three  new  pastoral  charges  were  developed, 
and  six  ministers  added  to  the  effective  ranks.  Yet  there 
was  an  increase  in  communicants  of  730. 

Two  promising  young  preachers  died  duriug  the  year — 
J.  K.  Sheldon  and  Edward  Peterson.  The  former  en- 
tered our  Conference  on  trial  in  1857,  and  in  due  time 
came  into  full  connection.  In  1862  he  was  placed  on  the 
list  of  superannuates.  He  rapidly  declined  till  January  5, 
1863  ;  then,  in  the  twenty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  passed  to 
his  reward. 

The  loss  of  Edward  Peterson  was  sensibly  felt.  He 
was  a  Norwegian,  a  graduate  of  Lawrence  University, 
deeply  pious,  and  very  successful.  His  diligence  and 
scholarship,  as  well  as  his  genuine  manliness,  may  be  in- 
ferred from  his  standing  in  college.  During  his  entire 
course  he  did  not  fall  below  second  grade  in  a  single  study 
(often  reached  first  grade),  and  did  not  receive  a  discredit 
mark.  This  was  the  more  remarkable,  as  he  had  a  very 
limited  knowledge  of  our  language  when  he  entered  the 
institution.     He  was  greatly  needed  in  the  rapidly  grow- 


204  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

ing  work  among  the  Scandinavians,  but  in  the  midst  of 
his  usefulness,  and  with  a  very  promising  future,  he  closed 
his  work,  and  entered  into  rest  June  30,  1863,  having 
labored  with  us  nearly  six  years. 

The  wives  of  three  of  our  preachers  also  passed  to 
their  final  home  this  year. 

The  first  in  order  of  time  was  Mrs.  Elizabeth  D.  An- 
derson, wife  of  Rev.  Joseph  Anderson.  She  died  of  ty- 
phoid fever,  in  Appleton,  April  28,  1863,  during  her  hus- 
band's pastorate  there.  For  twelve  years  she  had  been  an 
earnest  worker  with  him  in  the  itinerant  field.  Though 
her  "disease  rendered  her  bewildered  much  of  the  time," 
none  who  knew  her  devoted  life  doubted  her  i^reparati(»u 
for  the  closing  hour. 

Mrs.  Minerva  S.  Lavelle,  sister  of  Mrs.  Andeison, 
and  wife  of  Rev.  J.  Lavelle,  followed  next.  She  had  been 
in  attendance  upon  her  sister  in  her  last  illness,  returned 
to  her  home,  and  died  of  the  same  disease,  on  the  21st  of 
May,  -''peacefully,  submissively,  and  with  the  utmost  as- 
surance of  a  blissful  immortality." 

The  last  demise  to  be  recorded  here,  is  that  of  Mrs. 
Jennie  M.  Ames,  wife  of  Rev.  W.  D.  Ames,  who  departed 
June  13th  following,  in  the  thirtieth  year  of  her  age. 
She  had  been  walking  in  the  way  to  Zion  for  about  thir- 
teen years,  and  for  nearly  six  aided  her  husband  in  his 
itinerant  work. 

H.  Bannister,  S.  C.  Thomas,  C.  D.  Pillsbury,  and  M. 
Himebaugh  were  elected  delegates  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence, to  be  held  in  Philadelphia  the  following  May.  J.  H. 
Jenne  and  W.  G.  Miller  were  elected  as  reserves. 
-  There  was  evident  activity  all  along  the  lines  of  Chris- 
tian work,  showing  a  decided  increase  in  the  membership, 
the  benevolences,  and  in  churches  and  parsonages. 

A  very  marked  improvement  was  made  during  the 
year    in    Asbury   Church   property.     A  new,  neat,    brick 


ANNALS  OF  1S63.  205 

house  of  worship  was  erected,  and  the  old  one  converted 
into  a  commodious  parsonage.  Much  credit  is  due  the 
pastor,  Rev.  Geo.  Fellows,  in  pushing  the  enterprise  to 
completion.  This  was  the  third  church  that  society  had 
built.     The  first  was  consumed  by  fire  in  1857. 


206  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
1864-5. 

"  'T^HE  general  episcopal  superintendency  "  of  Methodism 
X  may  become  somewhat  speeial.  Bishop  Scott  pre- 
sided over  the  Wisconsin  Conference  in  1860,  1863,  and 
1834 — three  times  in  five  years.  This  was  an  unusual 
occurrence  in  the  modern  history  of  our  Church. 

The  Conference  met  this  year  in  Oshkosh,  on  the  fifth 
day  of  October,  and  after  usual  devotional  exercises  Samuel 
Fallows  was  elected  secretary,  with  Wm.  P.  Stowe,  R.  M. 
Beach,  and  H.  Colman,  assistants.  For  the  fourth  time  R.  C. 
Parsons  served  as  statistical  secretary. 

The  effects  of  the  war  were  still  everywhere  apparent. 
From  the  time  the  rebels  fired  upon  Fort  Sumter  till 
now,  about  two  and  a  half  millions  of  our  adult  male  popu- 
lation had  gone  to  the  front  in  defense  of  our  country. 
Many  of  our  women  had  also  rushed  to  the  hospitals  to 
care  for  the  sick  and  wounded.  Of  course  heavy  drafts 
were  thus  made  upon  the  Churches,  and  upon  none  more 
so  than  our  own."'' 


*The  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  held  in  May  of  this  year,  in  Philadelphia.  A 
patriotic  address  was  adopted  by  that  body,  and  sent  to  Presi- 
dent Lincoln  by  a  special  committee.  Mr.  Lincoln  made  a 
brief  and  characteristic  reply,  thus:  "Nobly  sustained  as  the 
Government  is  by  all  the  Churches,  I  would  utter  nothing 
which  might  in  the  least  appear  invidious  against  any ;  yet 
without  this  it  may  be  fairly  said  that  the  Methodist  Episco- 


ANNALS  OF  1864,  207 

It  is  reasonable,  therefore,  to  suppose  that  but  little 
apparent  progress  would  be  made  in  our  home-work.  Still 
we  endeavored  to  push  every  benevolent  and  humanitarian 
enterprise,  as  well  as  to  labor  directly  to  bring  men  to  God, 
and  build  them  up  in  righteousness.  The  records  show 
that  we  did.  Indeed,  new  schemes  of  benevolence  and 
new  developments  of  old  ones  were  adopted,  as  the  reader 
has  already  seen,  and  will  more  fully  hereafter.  But  the 
condition  of  our  country,  imperiled  as  it  still  was  by  a 
formidable  revolt,  was  the  absorbing  theme. 

Strange  as  it  may  appear  to  the  young  reader,  there 
were  some  in  the  free  States  (perhaps  more  than  were  sup- 
posed) who  secretly  hoped  the  rebels  would  be  successful. 
These  were  called  "Copperheads" — named  after  a  species 
of  serpent  in  the  South,  whose  bite  is  as  venomous  as  that 
of  a  rattlesnake,  but  give  no  audible  warning  to  their  vic- 
tims before  assault. 

Our  ministers  were  true  to  the  National  cause.  No  one 
would  have  been  tolerated  if  he  had  shown  any  sympathy 
with  the  cause  of  the  rebels.  All  our  utterances  gave 
proof  of  this. 

The  report  on  the  "State  of  the  Country"  was  fully 
up  to  those  of  former  years.  It  was  followed  by  one  or  two 
on  humanitarian  organizations,  of  which  the  war  furnished 
the  occasion,  but  were  eminently  the  product  of  our  Chris- 
tian civilization.  These  were  the  Christian  Commission 
and  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Commission.  The  Christian  Com- 
mission, in   its    organic    form,  owes    its    existence   to  the 


pal  Church,  not  less  devoted  than  the  best,  is,  by  its  numbers, 
the  most  important  of  all.  It  is  no  fault  in  others  that  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  sends  more  soldiers  into  the  field, 
more  nurses  into  the  hospitals,  and  more  prayers  to  heaven, 
than  any  other.  God  bless  the  Methodist  Church !  God  bless 
all  the  Churches !  And  blessed  be  God  who  giveth  us  the 
Churches!  " 


208  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

instrumentality  of  that  renowned  Christian  philanthropist, 
George  H.  Stewart,  of  Philadelphia.  Its  great  thought 
was  to  carry  relief,  spiritual  and  physical,  to  our  soldiers 
in  field,  camp,  or  hospital.  Its  work  was  done  mainly  by 
ministers  who  would  give  six  or  eight  weeks  of  their  time — 
having  only  their  expenses  borne — to  circulate  religious 
literature,  labor  with  the  sick  and  wounded  in  any  way 
that  was  needed,  and  to  preach  in  camps,  hospitals,  etc., 
as  there  was  opportunity.  Thus  many  were  cared  for  that 
could  not  have  been  assisted  in  any  other  way.  These 
*' delegates,"  as  they  were  called,  were  not  regarded  as  sol- 
diers ;  so  they  were  not,  as  were  the  chaplains,  controlled 
by  strict  military  discipline.  They  supplemented  the 
work  of  the  chaplains,  and  were  regarded,  by  such  as  were 
fit  to  be  chaplains,  as  important  auxiliaries. 

Florence  Nightingale,  an  English  lady  of  rank  and 
wealth,  went  as  an  angel  of  mercy  to  the  bloody  fields  of 
the  Crimean  war  to  perform  some  of  these  offices ;  and 
perhaps  her  work  there  suggested  the  idea  of  the  Chris- 
tian Commission.  Be  that  as  it  may,  both  were  in  the 
spirit  of  the  Great  Master's  teaching — practical  exhibitions 
of  the  lesson  inculcated  by  the  parable  of  the  Good 
Samaritan. 

Though  no  one  was  appointed  at  the  Conference  of 
1863  to  any  work  connected  with  the  army,  yet,  in  course 
of  the  year,  four  ofifered  themselves  and  were  accepted  in 
the  relations  now  to  be  stated.  C.  G.  Lathrop,  P.  S. 
Bennett,  and  Geo.  'Fellows  were  sent  as  delegates  of  the 
Christian  Commission  to  the  Department  of  the  Mississippi. 
Mr.  Lathrop  was  taken  ill  in  St.  Louis,  and  soon  returned 
to  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Bennett  spent  several  weeks  in  the 
w^ork,  mainly  in  Vicksburg  and  Memphis,  where  he  saw 
something  of  the  ravages  of  war,  and  was  twice  under 
rebel  fire.     Mr.  Fellows's  work  was  all  in  Memphis. 

An  incident  will  here  be  given  to  show  the  spirit  that 


ANNALS  OF  IS64.  209 

prevailed  in  the  "better  class  of  society"  in  St.  Louis: 
Mr.  Bennett  reached  that  city  on  Friday,  May  13,  1864, 
and  immediately  reported  to  the  office  of  the  commission 
there.  He  was  ordered  to  remain  till  Monday,  when  he 
was  to  proceed  down  the  river  to  Vicksburg.  By  invita- 
tion of  the  pastor,  he  occupied  the  pulpit  of  a  fashionable 
Presbyterian  Church  on  Sabbath  morning.  The  member- 
ship was  divided  on  the  great  issue  of  the  day — some  were 
intensely  loyal,  others  in  strong  sympathy  with  the  Rebel- 
lion. In  the  opening  services  he  prayed  for  the  success  of 
the  Government  in  the  terrible  ordeal  through  which 
it  was  passsing;  for  those  in  arras  against  it,  that  they 
might  be  brought  to  a  better  mind ;  for  that  unfortunate 
race  that  was  in  a  transition  from  bondage  to  freedom. 
All  this  was  very  offensive  to  rebel  sympathizers,  and  a 
score  or  more  left  the  house  in  disgust  and  disorder  before 
the  prayer  was  ended.  The  Missouri  Democrat,  the  next 
day,  gave  them  a  scathing  rebuke,  and  called  on  the  com- 
mandant of  the  post  to  take  them  in  custody  as  rebels. 

G.  A.  England  also  served  for  a  short  time  as  a  del- 
egate ;  but  of  his  work  the  writer  has  no  knowledge. 

Samuel  Fallows  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  of 
a  "hundred-day  regiment,"  and  went  to  Memphis  with  it 
in  June  of  the  same  year.  He  did  good  service  there,  and 
was  afterwards  bre vetted  brigadier-general.-^ 

As  to  the  general  plan  of  the  work,  as  well  as  the  work 
itself,  we  see  but  little  change. 

Beaver  Dam  District  was  disbanded  as  such,  and  its 
appointments  placed  in  other  districts. 


*  A  considerable  number  of  this  regiment  were  students  in 
Lawrence  University,  one  of  whom,  McKendree,  son  of  Rev. 
M.  Himebaugb,  fell  a  victim  to  the  typhoid  fever,  in  Memphis, 
Tennessee.  He  was  a  noble  youth,  of  much  promise  to  the 
Church  and  the  world. 


210  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE, 

S.  C.  Thomas  succeeded  W.  H.  Sampson  as  presiding 
elder  of  Milwaukee  District ;  and  P.  S.  Bennett  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  charge  of  Apple  ton  District,  in  place  of  M. 
Himebaugh. 

The  other  districts  retained  their  former  incumbents. 
Six  preachers  were  received  on  trial,  7  located,  7  were 
returned  supernumerary,   and    17   superannuated.      Thus 
we  had  5  less  effective   men    than  the   year  before,  and  8 
less  pastoral  charges. 

A  diminution  of  numbers  appears  in  all  the  reports  of 
this  year.     The  total  loss  in  the  laity  and  ministry  was  997. 
But  with  this  loss  of   numbers,  our  benevolent   contri- 
butions  amounted   to   S794.68    more   than  the   preceding 
year. 

Six  preachers  were  received  on  trial,  and  one  was  dis- 
continued. Seven  located,  some  of  whom  were,  in  after 
years,  readmitted. 

The  Norwegian  work  throughout  the  State  was  organ- 
ized into  a  district,  and  connected  with  the  West  Wiscon- 
sin Conference,  with  O.  P.  Peterson  as  presiding  elder. 
This  arrangement  carried  with  it  248  ministers  and 
members,  which  fact  accounts,  in  part,  for  the  loss  of  this 
year. 

Death  spared  our  preachers  this  year,  but  seized  four 
of  their  wives. 

Mrs.  Rachel  C.  Knox  was  the  first  victim.  Her  death 
occurred  December  28,  1863.  She  was  a  superior  woman. 
In  1846  she  graduated  from  the  State  Normal  School,  at 
Albany,  New  York,  and  thereafter  was  preceptress  in 
schools  of  high  grade,  till  disease  and  death  closed  her 
work.  She  sustained  that  relation  to  the  female  depart- 
ment of  Lawrence  University  from  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage to  Dr.  Knox,  in  1861,  till  near  the  close  of  her  use- 
ful life.  Few  more  noble  and  symmetrical  characters  ever 
graced  any  literary  institution  or  Church. 


ANNALS  OF  1865,  211 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Priestly,  wife  of  Rev.  T.  C.  WillsoD, 
followed  her,  ou  the  first  day  of  February,  1864.  She  was 
a  graduate  of  our  Lawrence  University ;  a  woman  of  uni- 
form piety  and  great  promise  of  usefulness. 

Mrs.  Cornelia  B.  Olcott,  wife  of  Rev.  D.  T.  Olcott, 
another  very  devoted  Christian,  exchanged  mortality  for 
life,  July  20,  1864.  Like  Mrs.  Willson,  she  promised 
great  usefulness.  Among  her  last  utterances  were,  "Pre- 
cious Jesus  !"  "I  can  not  sing  here,  but  I  shall  soon 
sing,  'Unto  Him  that  hath  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from 
our  sins  in  his  own  blood — to  him  be  glory  and  dominion 
for  ever  and  ever!'" 

The  name  of  Mrs.  N.  Louisa  Requa,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  D. 
Requa,  completes  the  death-roll  for  this  year.  She  de- 
parted October  2,  1864,  three  days  before  the  session  of 
our  Conference  began  She  had  been  but  a  short  time  a 
pastor's  wife,  but  had  greatly  endeared  herself  to  all  who 
knew  her,  as  an  amiable,  devoted,  Christian  woman,  of 
great  future  promise. 

1865. 

The  nineteenth  session  of  the  AVisconsin  Conference 
commenced  this  year  on  the  fourth  day  of  October,  in 
Summerfield  Church,  Milwaukee.  Bishop  Baker  appeared 
for  the  third  time  as  its  president. 

But  two  Methodist  Conferences  had  been  previously 
held  in  the  metropolis  of  our  State,  the  Rock  River  Con- 
ference, in  1844,  and  the  Wisconsin,  in  1857.  So  even 
there  our  convocation  was  a  very  enjoyable  rarity;  and 
that,  too,  though  the  State  Convention  of  the  Presby- 
terian and  Congregational  Churches  was  in  session  at  the 
same  time. 

Samuel  Fallows  was  re-elected  secretary.  W.  P.  Stowe 
and  E.  D.  Farnham  were  his  assistants.  R.  W.  Bosworth 
was  statistical  secretary. 


212  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

The  year  had   been  a  very  eventful  one  in  the  history 
of  our  country.     At  the  last  session  of  our  Conference  the 
War    of  the   Rebellion   was    raging.     The    long,    bloody 
"Battle   of  the   Wilderness"  had  been  fought,  and  indi- 
cations of  the   Nation's    triumph    were  more  encouraging 
than   perhaps  at  any  former    tirpe.     But  there    was  still 
much  strength  and  determination  on  the  part  of  the  rebel 
army.     Now  all  was  changed.     On  the  third  day  of  April, 
of  this  year,  Richmond,   the  capital   of  the  Confederacy, 
was  taken  by  our  forces;  and  on  the  ninth  day  of  the  same 
month,  General  Lee's  army  surrendered  to  General  Grant, 
which  event  virtually  ended  the  Rebellion.     The  next  day 
Jefferson  Davis,  the  President  of  the  Confederacy,  who  had 
fled  from  Richmond  while  the  Union  army  was  entering, 
was  captured  in  Georgia.     These  were  days  of  great  re- 
joicing throughout  the  North,   which  continued  until  the 
14th,  when  a  wave  of  sorrow  not  easily  described  rolled 
over  all  our  loyal  domain  at  the  announcement  that  our 
noble  President,  Abraham  Lincoln,  had  been  assassinated. 
Still,  we  came  together  with  far  less  sadness  than  for 
several    years  before.     The    Rebellion  was    crushed ;    the 
supremacy  of  the  Government  was  demonstrated ;  slavery, 
as  a  system  in  the  United  States,  was  destroyed ;  and  of 
the  nearly  one  hundred  thousand  that  had  gone  out  from  our 
State  to  the  beleaguered  field,  those  that  survived  had  re- 
turned to  their  homes.     Many   of  these  were  of  our  own 
household,  and  were  now  taking  their  places  again  in  the 
ranks  of  Immanuel,  to  fight  a  bloodless   battle  with  the 
enemy  of  all  righteousness.     Of  course  we  were  encour- 
aged, even  though  sad  at  the  havoc  of  the  last  few  years. 
The  report  on  the  "State  of  the  Country,"  of  course, 
recognized    the  altered   condition   of    things.     While    ex- 
pressing appropriate  gratitude  to  the  Ruler  of  nations  and 
the  brave  men  who  had  imperiled  their  lives  to  save  the 
commonwealth,  it  justly   censured   the   oppression  of  the 


ANNALS  OF  1S65,  213 

colored  race  in  being  deprived  of  the  right  of  civil  fran- 
chise. The  reader  will  bear  in  mind  that  the  Fifteenth 
Amendment  to  our  National  Constitution  had  not  then 
been  adopted,  and  that  the  Conference  was  still  trying  to 
shxipe  public  sentiment  in  regard  to  human  rights  and  the 
best  interests  of  our  country,  instead  of  following  the  lead 
of  demagogues. 

For  several  years  the  subject  of  lay  representation  in 
the  General  Conference  had  been  agitated  in  some  portions 
of  our  country,  particularly  in  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
and  New  England.  The  Church  at  large  did  not  seem  to 
feel  much  interest  in  it.  The  General  Conference  of  1860 
submitted  it  to  a  vote  of  the  conferences  and  male  mem- 
bers of  the  Church;  but  it  failed  to  receive  their  sanction, 
as  previously  stated.  Still  the  agitation  continued.  It 
seemed  more  intense  and  more  general  in  the  ministry 
than  in  the  laity.  Some  doubted  the  wisdom  of  the  meas- 
ure, though  all  admitted  the  right  of  the  laity  to  repre- 
sentation, at  least  that  this  should  be  accorded  them  when- 
ever they  signified  a  desire  for  it  with  any  considerable 
degree  of  unanimity.  The  Conference,  therefore,  this  year 
referred  the  matter  to  a  committee,  of  which  I.  Searls 
was  chairman.  The  substance  of  their  report  was  that 
representation  in  the  higher  councils  of  the  Church  should 
be  allowed  to  the  laity  whenever  they  should  be  united  in 
asking  it.  The  Conference  accepted  this,  and  we  shall 
hereafter  see  they  acted  in  good  faith. 

The  educational  and  benevolent  interests  of  the  Church 
were  all  duly  cared  for  through  the  year.  Rev.  George 
M.  Steele,  of  whom  more  will  be  heard,  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  College  at  the  previous  annual  meeting  of  the 
Joint  Board,  and  had  entered  upon  his  work.  But,  to  the 
regret  of  all,  he  was  kept  from  the  Conference  session  by 
illness.  Appropriate  mention  was  made  of  this  in  the  re- 
port on  Education,  and  also  a  hearty  welcome  extended  to 


214  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

him  as  the  head  of  our  cherished  University.  A  noticeable 
feature  of  the  report  was  a  commeudation  of  our  "Public 
Schools."     The  resolution  relating  to  them  is  here  given : 

"  Resolved,  That  we,  ia  common  with  other  Christian  de- 
nominations, have  a  deep  interest  in  the  public  schools  of  the 
State,  and  that  we  deem  it  the  duty  of  our  ministers  and  peo- 
ple to  manifest  their  interest  by  frequently  visiting  the  schools, 
atttending  the  business  meetings  of  the  districts  and  wards, 
and  by  assisting  in  every  practicable  way  to  promote  the  use- 
fulness of  these  schools.  L.  L.  Knox,  Chairman." 

Accessions  to  the  ministry  continued  to  be  very  slight — 
four  being  received  on  trial,  and  only  one  into  full  con- 
nection. Taken  together,  this  is  the  smallest  number 
received  in  our  history  thus  far.  It  is  true  two  were 
readmitted  who  had  formerly  been  members — making,  in 
all,  seven  accessions.  But  one  located,  and  four  proba- 
tioners were  discontinued. 

Last  year  we  recorded  the  deaths  of  four  preachers' 
wives.  During  the  year  just  closed  three  preachers  were 
called  away. 

Romulus  O.  Kellogg  was  received  on  trial  in  1862, 
and  into  full  membership  in  1864.  His  death  occurred 
January  27,  1865,  in  the  third  year  of  his  itinerant  minis- 
try, and  in  his  first  pastorate.  He  was  the  son  of  Leverett 
S.  Kellogg — so  prominent  in  the  early  days  of  Methodism 
in  Milwaukee.  Graduating  at  the  Wesleyan  University, 
in  Middletown,  Connecticut,  in  1849,  he  soon  became  con- 
nected with  the  Board  of  Instruction  in  our  rising  institu- 
tion at  Appleton,  where  he  continued  several  years,  and 
exerted  a  most  salutary  influence  upon  the  students  there. 
His  moral  worth  can  scarcely  be  overstated.  He  was 
a  fine  scholar,  but  not  an  easy  extemporizer.  His  sermons, 
therefore,  cost  him  much  labor;  and  on  this  account  he 
overtaxed  himself,  shattered  his  nervous  system,  and  pre- 
maturely closed  a  useful  life. 


ANNALS  OF  1865.  215 

• 

Henry  Requa  commenced  life  on  earth,  January  6, 
1820,  and  closed  it  May  19,  1865,  at  Little  Rock,  Arkan- 
sas, where  he  was  caring  for  our  "Boys  in  Blue,"  as  a 
delegate  of  the  Christian  Commission.  His  itinerant  minis- 
try began  in  this  State  in  1847.  He  filled  some  important 
appointments,  was  two  years  a  presiding  elder,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  pastor  of  our  Church  at  Ripon. 
This  was  the  second  time  that  Church  had  been  bereft  of 
a  pastor.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  individuality. 
Earnest,  and  somewhat  impulsive,  he  took  his  positions 
promptly,  and  adhered  to  them  firmly  till  convinced  he  was 
wrong.     His  end  was  quite  triumphant. 

George  Chester  was  converted  in  England,  under 
the  labors  of  Rev.  James  Caughey,  at  the  age  of  about 
sixteen  years.  He  joined  our  Conference  in  1851,  and 
labored  quite  successfully  till  near  the  close  of  the  year 
1865,  when,  on  the  24th  of  September,  after  battling  that 
terrible  disease,  typhoid  fever,  for  about  three  weeks,  he 
yielded  to  its  power.  Just  before  he  passed  away  "he 
clasped  his  hands,  nearly  palsied  in  death,  and  whispered, 
'Glory!  Glory!  Glory!'" 

Three  more  were  placed  on  the  list  of  supernumeraries 
than  the  previous  year,  and  three  had  died ;  so  we  had  a 
smaller  force  of  effective  men.  We  had,  however,  made  a 
gain  of  five  church  edifices,  two  parsonages,  and  554  mem- 
bers, with  a  commendable  advance  in  our  benevolences. 


216  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  X. 
1866-7. 

THE  beautiful  youug  city  of  Ripou  was  this  year  favored 
with  the  annual  session  of  our  Conference.  The  city 
stands  on  the  northwestern  verge  of  what  was  known  as 
Ceresco  Prairie — perhaps  the  queen  of  Wisconsin  prairies — 
and  owes  its  existence  largely  to  an  unusually  fertile 
country  around  it. 

Ripon  College,  founded  in  an  early  day,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Congregational  denomination  also  con- 
tributes to  its  importance  and  growth. 

Ripon  first  appears  as  a  pastoral  charge  in  1855,  and 
the  next  year  a  church  edifice  is  reported.  It  is  a  very 
neat  framed  building,  90  by  40  feet  in  size,  with  a  good 
lecture-room  and  three  class-rooms  in  the  basement.  It  cost 
$7,000,  and  will  seat  five  hundred  people — almost  twice  as 
many  as  some  churches  that  cost  much  more.  A  parson- 
age followed  after  a  few  years,  and  in  the  summer  of  1889 
a  much  better  one  was  purchased  for  $1,700. 

The  Conference  convened  on  the  sixth  day  of  Septem- 
ber, and  was  called  to  order  by  Bishop  Davis  W.  Clark, 
All  the  secretaries  were  the  same  as  the  preceding  year, 
but  the  president  was  an  entirely  new  man  among  us.  His 
name,  however,  had  long  been  familiar  to  us.  In  1851  he 
was  elected  president  of  our  rising  university  at  Appleton ; 
but  as  he  did  not  accept  the  situation,  few  of  our  preachers 
had  been  favored  with  his  acquaintance.  From  1852  to 
1864  he  was  editor  of  the  Ladies'  Bepositori/ ,  and  thus  his 
became  a  household  name  in  aU  our  land. 


A NNA  LS  OF  1866.  217 

The  General  Conference  of  1864  added  to  the  episco- 
pal force  three  strong  men — D.  W.  Clark,  Edward  Thom- 
son, and  Calvin  Kingsley.  The  two  last  named  never 
visited  us.  They  both  died  in  the  performance  of  their 
official  duties,  away  from  their  homes — the  former  at 
Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  March  22,  1870;  the  latter  at  Beyrout, 
Turkey,  on  the  sixth  day  of  the  following  mouth.  Bishop 
Clark  endeared  himself  to  us  by  his  great  kindness,  wise 
utterances,  and  marked  executive  ability. 

The  usual  custom  is  for  the  bishop  to  preach  one  ser- 
mon during  the  Conference  session — on  Sabbath  morning. 
But  Bishop  Clark  gave  us,  in  addition,  a  fine  discourse  on 
Friday  afternoon  on  the  "  Centenary  of  American  Meth- 
odism." 

The  reader  should  bear  in  mind  that  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  October,  1766,  the  first  Methodist  class  on 
this  continent  was  formed  by  Philip  Embury,  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  and  that,  per  order  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence, this  event  was  celebrated  throughout  the  country  by 
"special  services  and  thank-offerings." 

October  seems  to  have  been  a  somewhat  epochal  month 
for  Methodism.  On  the  25th  of  October,  1789,  Mr.  Wesley 
formed  the  first  Methodist  society  or  class  in  England.  As 
just  stated,  the  first  one  in  America  was  formed  in  the  same 
month.  And  two  years  and  two  days  from  the  latter  event — 
viz.,  October  28,  1768 — the  first  Methodist  church  edifice 
in  all  this  broad  land  was  dedicated  by  Mr.  Embury. 

Two  new  benevolent  enterprises  were  assuming  organ- 
ized forms,  with  pressing  demands  upon  the  Church.  These 
were  the  Freedmen's  Aid  vSociety  and  the  Church  Exten- 
sion Society.  The  latter,  or  something  like  it,  had  been  a 
felt  want  of  the  Church  for  years.  Rev.  Dr.  Kynett,  of 
the  Upper  Iowa  Conference,  is  the  accredited  originator  of 
this  new  departure  in  Church-work.  It  was  brought  before 
us  at  this   session  by  Dr.   S.  Y.  Monroe,  its  first  corre- 

18 


218  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

spending  secretary,  and  a  Conference  society  was  formed, 
of  which  G.  M.  Steele  was  president.  This  was  auxiliary 
to  the  parent  society,  organized  by  the  last  General  Con- 
ference, whose  head-quarters  were  in  Philadelphia.  We 
shall  hear  of  its  grand  achievements  in  coming  years. 

The  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  grew  out  of  the  abolition 
of  slavery.  The  fetters  of  four  million  bondmen  were 
melted  in  the  fierce  fires  of  the  Rebellion.  Scarcely  one 
of  this  vast  number  knew  a  letter  of  the  alphabet,  yet  all 
soon  became  citizens  of  the  United  States.  Such  a  mass 
of  ignorance,  with  all  the  rights  of  the  most  cultured, 
would  have  been  a  very  dangerous  element  in  the  body 
politic  but  for  the  intense  loyalty  of  the  Negro  race  to 
the  General  Government.  Indeed,  this  was  not  a  sufiicient 
guarantee  of  safety,  for  it  was  evident  that  unprincipled 
demagogues  could  mislead  them.  The  United  States  Con- 
gress, therefore,  began  to  make  provision  for  their  education. 
But  after  a  little  time  the  adverse  clamor  of  politicians 
prevailed,  and  this  abused  race  was  deserted  by  the  Gov- 
ernment which  they  gallantly  aided  to  rescue  from  the 
bloody  hand  of  treason.  But  the  Church  of  Christ,  as  it 
ever  has,  acted  the  part  of  the  Good  Samaritan.  Nor  was 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  laggard  in  this  work.  It 
organized  a  society,  and  provided  for  auxiliaries  in  all  the 
Annual  Conferences.  Such  an  auxiliary  was  this  year 
formed  in  our  Conference. 

Another  grave  question  had  arisen  out  of  the  issues  of 
the  war;  viz.,  that  of  reconstructing  the  Southern  States. 
AVhile  the  Conference  disclaimed  all  intention  and  all  right 
to  dictate  legislation,  it  did  assert  its  privilege  and  duty  to 
use  its  influence  by  public  and  private  speech  to  dissemi- 
nate and  impress  the  moral  principles  that  should  dominate 
the  Nation.  Politicians  told  us  we  were  meddling  with 
what  did  not  concern  us,  that  we  had  better  confine  our- 
selves to  the  gospel,  etc.,  just  as  they  do  now,  to   oppose 


ANNALS  OF  1866.  219 

our  temperance  work.  But  they  did  not  silence  us,  nor 
will  they  in  the  present  contest  with  the  liquor-power  of 
this  Nation. 

Although  the  institutions  calling  for  pecuniary  aid  in- 
creased, the  Conference  did  not  neglect  those  already  ex- 
isting.    Indeed,  they  were  more  liberally  supported. 

During  the  war  we  had  hard  work  to  hold  our  own  in 
membership.  This  was  the  first  year,  with  one  exception, 
that  our  aggregate  number  of  ministers,  members,  and 
probationers  equaled  that  of  1860.  But  our  benevolent 
collections  increased  in  that  time  from  S2, 13 1.41  to 
$10,409.54. 

During  the  same  period  we  built  more  than  twenty 
churches,  and  nearly  as  many  parsonages,  with  an  aggre- 
gate increase  in  the  valuation  of  church  property  of 
$174,425. 

During  the  year  just  closed  we  had  increased  our  be- 
nevolent collections  81,149.97,  the  value  of  our  church 
property  $87,675,  and  our  total  membership  470.  The 
number  of  pastoral  charges  was  precisely  the  same  as  the 
last  year,  and  that  of  effective  ministers  six  more,  thus  re- 
ducing the  number  of  places  "to  be  supplied."  Only 
four  were  received  on  trial,  two  of  whom  have  risen  to 
distinguished  positions,  Samuel  Lugg  and  J.  L.  Hewitt. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Ann  Jenne,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  H.  Jenne, 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Willard,  wife  of  Rev.  W.  Willard, 
were  taken  away  by  death  during  the  past  year. 

Mrs.  Jenne  died  at  Lake  Mills,  November  16,  1865, 
after  bearing,  with  her  husband,  the  toils  and  responsibili- 
ties of  our  itinerancy  for  twenty-four  years.  She  was  a 
very  noble  woman,  universally  esteemed,  and  died  sus- 
tained by  the  hope  of  the  righteous. 

Mrs.  Willard  had  a  shorter  pilgrimage  in  fhe  itinerant 
field,  most  of  which  was  in  mission-work  among  the 
Oneidas,  where  she  was  very  useful  as  a  teacher  and  as  an 


220  WISCONSIN  CONFER ENCE. 

exemplar  to  the  female  Indians.  She  died  January  22, 
1866,  of  consumption,  brought  on  by  overwork  and  ex- 
posure. 

Geo.  Fellows,  J.  Van  Voris,  Wm.  Morse,  J.  D.  Requa, 
and  Thos.  Orbison,  who  had  been  temporarily  disconnected 
Avith  the  itinerancy,  were  readmitted. 

The  Minutes  show  one  district  less  than  last  year. 
Racine  District,  as  such,  was  disbanded,  and  its  appoint- 
ments incorporated  in  other  districts.  H.  C.  Tilton  had 
been  in  charge  of  it  for  four  years.  The  incumbents  of 
the  other  districts  remained  as  before. 

1867. 

The  twenty-first  session  of  our  Conference  was  this  year 
held  in  the  city  of  Beaver  Dam,  commencing  on  the  sec- 
ond day  of  October.  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson  appeared 
as  president,  called  the  Conference  to  order,  and  pro- 
ceeded in  the  solemn  service  of  the  eucharist,  according  to 
our  established  custom. 

This  remarkable  man  had  presided  over  our  Confer- 
ence once  before,  and  during  the  eleven  intervening  years 
had  occasionally  visited  our  territory  for  some  special 
work.  Meanwhile  his  reputation  as  a  preacher,  as  the 
intimate  friend  and  counselor  of  President  Lincoln,  and, 
indeed,  in  almost  every  respect,  had  spread  far  and  wide. 
We  therefore  hailed  his  second  episcopal  visit  with  great 
delight. 

The  same  secretaries  that  had  served  us  for  the  two 
yeftrs  next  preceding,  were  re-elected. 

In  the  routine  of  Conference  business  there  was  little 
to  distinguish  this  from  ordinary  sessions. 

A  coincidence  similar  to  that  of  the  secretaries  may 
be  seen  in  the  number  received  on  trial.  For  three  suc- 
cessive years  this  class  consisted  of  just  four. 

Pastors  and  pastoral  charges  did  not  increase  as  fast  as 


ANNALS  OF  1867.  221 

the  laity;  nor  they  as  rapidly  as  their  contributions  for 
benevolent  and  religious  purposes. 

We  had  a  small  re-enforcement  from  other  sources. 
Geo.  W.  Wells  was  admitted  to  membership  in  the  Con- 
ference from  the  Primitive  Methodist  Church,  and  E.  W. 
Stevens  from  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church. 

Wm.  Averill,  who  had  retired  to  the  local  ranks  a  few 
years  before,  was  readmitted. 

Two  located  and  two  withdrew  from  the  connection. 
Five  less  were  returned  as  supernumerary,  and  one  more 
placed  upon  the  superannuated  list  than  the  previous  year. 
So  we  gained  six  to  the  effective  work,  being  just  the  num- 
ber gained  the  year  before. 

Several  brethren  received  at  this  Conference  deserve 
honorable  mention,  but  as  they  will  naturally  come  to 
view  hereafter,  they  are  passed  for  the  present. 

As  the  name  of  Professor  Mason  appears  among  us  for 
the  last  time  this  year,  it  is  but  just  to  pay  him  deserved 
tribute.  Russell  Z.  Mason  was  a  graduate  of  Wesleyan 
University,  at  Middletown,  Connecticut.  For  some  time 
he  was  professor  in  McKendree  College.  In  1855  he  was 
elected  to,  and  accepted,  a  professorship  in  Lawrence  Uni- 
versity, and  was  president  from  1861  to  1865.  He  was  a 
scholar  of  no  ordinary  rank,  especially  in  the  sciences. 
As  a  man  he  was  genial,  kind,  frank,  and  noble.  It  was 
difficult  for  any  one  to  dislike  him ;  but  unfortunately  he 
became  tinctured  with  modern  spiritism.  Just  to  what 
extent  he  received  its  dogmas  or  vagaries,  it  is  not  easy  to 
tell;  but  while  he  had  no  affinity  for  its  blasphemous  and 
immoral  teachings,  he  accepted  enough  of  the  system  to 
unsettle  his  faith  in  some  theories  usually  deemed  orthodox, 
and  to  unsettle  the  faith  of  orthodox  Christians  in  him  as  a 
safe  counselor  of  youth.  Thus,  for  several  of  the  latter 
years  of  his  connection  with  the  college,  many  believed 
that  he  was  sowing  the  seeds  of  skepticism  in  young  minds, 


222  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

that  would  produce  a  harvest  of  ruin.  Being  convinced 
that  the  interests  of  the  college  demanded  it,  he  quietly 
resigned  in  1865,  but  continued  a  firm  friend  of  the  insti- 
tution. None  regretted  the  necessity  of  this  more  than 
those  who  believed  it  imperative.  During  the  Conference 
year  ending  1867,  he  withdrew  from  the  ministry  and 
membership  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  So  far  as 
is  known  to  the  writer,  he  has  never  connected  himself 
with  any  other.  He  is  now  in  Colorado,  an  assayist  of  ore. 
This  may  be  an  honorable  calling ;  but  with  his  abilities 
he  ought  to  be  ministering  to  human  needs  on  a  higher 
plane  and  broader  scale. 

As  time  passed  on  we  see  no  weakening  of  the  moral 
spine  of  the  Conference  in  opposing  sin  in  high  places, 
even  though  intrenched  in  political  organizations.  The 
following  resolution,  adopted  at  this  session,  is  significant 
of  this: 

''  Resolved,  That  we  recognize,  with  fearful  apprehen- 
sions, an  existing  purpose  to  repeal  the  laws  in  reference 
to  our  holy  Sabbath,  and  that  any  political  party  sympa- 
thizing with  such  a  measure  forfeits  all  claims  upon  the 
confidence  and  support  of  Christian  men." 

This  has  the  right  ring.  If  all  ecclesiastical  bodies  would 
thus  enter  a  protest  against  anti-Christian  schemes  in  legis- 
lation, and  then,  in  case  politicians  disregard  it,  utterly 
withdraw  their  "  support,"  the  future  of  our  country  would 
be  much  brighter  than  it  is. 

Special  agents  for  Churches,  or  some  other  worthy  cause, 
often  visit  our  Conference  to  solicit  financial  aid ;  and  they 
always  ask  in  faith.  And  probably  their  faith  is  strength- 
ened by  the  fact  that  they  always  have  received. 

At  this  Conference,  Rev.  Frank  De  Haas,  D.  D.,  pas- 
tor of  the  Metropolitan  Church  in  Washington,  appeared 
in  its  behalf.  Years  before — even  as  early  as  1855 — the 
enterprise  was  brought  before  us;    and  it  was  urged  that 


ANNALS  OF  1867.  223 

we,  as  a  denomiDatioD,  were  not  properly  represented  in 
the  Capital  of  our  Nation,  and  that  this  would  meet  the 
demands  of  the  case.  This  appeared  all  right ;  but  such 
was  the  relation  of  the  Baltimore  Conference  (in  whose 
bounds  this  Church  was  located)  to  slavery,  that  the  Con- 
ference did  not  espouse  the  cause  very  heartily.  Some, 
however,  gave  liberally  to  it.  But  now  the  case  was 
changed.  Slavery  was  dead,  and  the  Nation  was  alive. 
The  Conference  showed  its  interest  in  the  cause  by  pledg- 
ing S630. 

At  the  same  session  the  Conference  gave  $45  to  aid 
in  a  church-building  for  colored  people  in  Janesville. 

It  still  further  showed  its  good-will  by  the  adoption  of 
the  following  resolutions : 

"  Whereas,  The  interests  of  Methodism  in  the  State 
of  Wisconsin  demand  a  representation  at  the  Capital  com- 
mensurate with  their  great  and  growing  importance ;  and 

''Whereas,  The  feebleness  of  our  Church  at  that 
point  has  hitherto  prevented  a  fair  showing  before  the 
world ;  therefore, 

^^  Resolved,  That  we  will  hail  with  satisfaction  any  well- 
directed  movement  towards  building  a  church  at  Madison 
worthy  the  denomination,  and  will  heartily  co-operate  in 
such  an  enterprise." 

It  should  be  remembered  that  none  of  these  stood  con- 
nected with  our  Conference,  and  also  that  the  contribu- 
tions were  almost  entirely  from  the  pockets  of  preachers. 

For  some  years  hop-raising  had  been  on  the  increase, 
and  some  of  our  people  had  gone  into  the  business,  with  the 
idea  that  hops  were  extensively  used  in  tanning  leather. 
This  was  a  delusive  snare.  It  required  but  little  investi- 
gation to  satisfy  any  one  that  all  the  tanning  they  did  was 
on  the  coating  of  human  stomachs.  The  Conference  put 
itself  on  record  in  this  way : 

^^  Resolved,  That  we  will  ever  discountenance  supplying 


224  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

the  market  with  that  which  will  probably  be  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  malt  or  spirituous  liquors." 

The  small  church  edifice  mentioned  on  a  former  page, 
though  improved  in  its  appearance,  was  entirely  inadequate 
to  the  present  needs  of  the  people.  Great  anxiety  was 
therefore  felt  in  regard  to  ''our  next  preacher."  So  much 
depended  on  the  preacher,  especially  in  early  times,  in 
carrying  on  church-building  enterprises,  that  this  was  a 
very  natural  feeling.  Rev.  C.  E.  Carpenter,  then  a  rising 
youDg  man,  w^as  selected  for  the  responsible  place. 

Among  the  prominent  laymen  there  may  be  mentioned 
Mr.  David  Newman.  He  and  his  estimable  wife  were  deeply 
interested  in  this  enterprise.  The  latter  has  become  ex- 
tensively known  as  the  first  woman  in  our  Church  elected 
as  a  lay  delegate  to  the  General  Conference.  Several  years 
before,  they  had  removed  to  Colorado. 

The  Freedmen's  Aid  and  Church  Extension  Societies 
came  prominently  to  view,  and  decisive  steps  were  taken 
in  their  favor.     So,  indeed,  of  all  the  benevolencies. 

The  state  of  the  country  was  still  an  absorbing  subject. 
The  most  alarming  feature  was  that  ' '  political  parties  were 
showing  signs  of  succumbing"  to  this  influence.  Against 
all  this  the  Conference  uttered  a  decided  protest  in  the 
adoption  of  a  strong  report  on  the  State  of  the  Country, 
evidently  written  by  Dr.  Bannister,  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  that  subject. 

True,  the  war  had  closed,  slavery  as  a  system  was  no 
more,  and  reconstruction  was  progressing.  But  another 
gigantic  evil  began  to  loom  in  the  moral  heavens.  A  large 
class  of  our  foreign-born  population — mostly  Germans — 
were  not  only  turning  the  Christian  Sabbath  into  a  holiday 
for  all  kinds  of  sports  and  wickedness,  but  demanding  the 
repeal  of  all  laws  for  its  observance,  and  for  the  protection 
of  others  from  their  noisy  demonstration  on  that  day. 

There  was  no  change  in  the  general  plan  of  the  work. 


ANNALS  OF  1867.  225 

The  districts  were  the  same  as  the  year  before,  and  their 
incumbents  also. 

There  were  124  effective  ministers,  three  of  whom  were 
missionaries  in  foreign  fields,  three  were  employed  in  the 
interests  of  the  Western  Seaman's  Friend  Society,  four  in 
the  Bible  work,  and  three  in  the  educational  field.  So,  as 
usual,  several  were  employed  by  the  presiding  elders  to 
man  the  pastoral  charges. 

The  whole  number  connected  with  the  Church  was 
12,635. 

Fifteen  churches  and  five  parsonages  were  built  during 
the  year. 

At  Evansville  the  old  church  edifice  gave  place  to  a 
better  one,  which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $6,000.  It  seats 
about  three  hundred  and  fifty.  A  parsonage  followed  in 
1869,  valued  at  $1,000. 

The  total  collection  for  benevolent  purposes  was  $10,925, 
an  increase  of  $516. 

G.  M.  Steele,  W.  G.  Miller,  Samuel  Fallows,  Henry 
Bannister,  and  C.  D.  Pillsbury  were  elected  delegates  to 
the  General  Conference,  to  be  held  in  Chicago,  commencing 
May  1,  1868.  S.  C.  Thomas,  Jos.  Anderson,  and  E.  S. 
Grumly  were  elected  reserve  delegates. 

19 


226  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  XL 
1868-9. 

' '  ^  I  ^HE  twenty-second  session  of  the  Wisconsin  Confer- 

X  ence  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  held 
at  Racine,  Wisconsin,  beginning  at  nine  o'clock,  A.  M., 
October  1,  1868,  Bishop  E.  R.  Ames  presiding."  Samuel 
Fallows  was  elected  secretary,  with  H.  Colraan  and  E.  D. 
Farnham  as  assistants,  and  R.  W.  Bosworth,  statistical 
secretary. 

The  reader  may  see  that  the  only  change  in  the  secre- 
taries, for  the  three  last  preceding  years,  was  the  first  as- 
sistant, H.  Colman,  taking  the  place  of  W.  P.  Stowe. 

Bishop  Ames  was  well  known  to  us,  as  this  was  his 
fourth  official  visit  to  our  Conference.  It  also  proved  to 
be  the  last.  He  was  elected  to  the  episcopacy  in  1852, 
and  honored  the  ofiice  for  many  years.  His  presidency  in 
Annual  and  General  Conferences  was  marked  with  prompt- 
ness and  magisterial  dignity.  Englishmen  were  sometimes 
reminded  by  his  manner  of  judges  in  their  own  country. 
Yet  there  was  nothing  unkind  in  his  nature.  If,  at  any 
time,  he  seemed  severe,  it  was  because  the  case  demanded 
a  sort  of  severity.  He  was  occasionally  sarcastic,  but  his 
sarcasm  was  of  the  highest  order,  as  the  reader  can  see  by 
the  following  incident: 

Many  years  ago,  while  he  was  presiding  elder  on  In- 
dianapolis District,  a  severe  contest  was  going  on  in  Indi- 
ana in  reference  to  the  establishment  of  public  schools. 
His  duty  called  him  to  attend  a  camp-meeting  in  a  county 


». 


W^  '^^ 


ANNALS  OF  1868,  227 

where  there  was  great  opposition  to  the  proposed  innova- 
tion. There  were  two  newspapers  in  the  county,  diverse 
in  politics  generally,  but  vying  with  each  other  in  oppos- 
ing the  public-school  project.  On  the  Sabbath  there  was 
a  crowd,  and  the  editors  of  the  two  papers  were  present. 
Elder  Ames  preached  in  the  morning,  and,  in  course  of 
his  sermon,  said:  ''Before  I  came  to  this  county  I  sup- 
posed its  inhabitants  were  a  very  ignorant  class  of  people, 
and  in  favor  of  having  their  children  grow  up  in  igno- 
rance. But  my  horse  cast  a  shoe,  and  I  stopped  to  have 
it  reset.  While  the  smith  was  doing  this  I  amused  myself 
in  viewing  the  pictures  pasted  on  the  walls  of  his  shop, 
and  saw  one  of  a  half-grown  hog,  under  which  was  printed, 
'  The  Learned  Pig.'  Then  said  I  to  myself:  'The  people 
of  Rush  County  are  not  opposed  to  education,  after  all. 
The  only  question  with  them  is,  where  to  begin ;  and  they 
have  decided  to  begin  with  the  pigs!'  Well,  all  right; 
the  children  will  come  in  by  and  by." 

At  another  time  an  indiscreet  person  spoke  in  a  Con- 
ference love-feast,  and  mentioned  some  of  his  mean  tricks 
before  he  was  converted,  greatly  to  the  disgust  of  all 
present.  As  he  sat  down  the  bishop  remarked,  in  his  cool 
way:  "I  trust  that  brother  is  so  thoroughly  ashamed  of 
those  bad  actions  that  he  will  never  allude  to  them  again  in 
public." 

Such  sallies  of  real  wit  bespeak  a  masterly  mind. 

The  subject  of  lay  representation  in  the  General  Con- 
ference, which  had  been  agitated  for  years,  took  on  a  new 
phase  at  this  session.  The  Fifteenth  Delegated  General 
Conference,  held  in  Chicago  in  May  of  that  year,  adopted 
a  plan  of  representation  with  unexpected  unanimity, 
and  submitted  it  to  a  vote  of  the  whole  Church  for 
action.  This  was  quite  different  from  the  submission 
years  before,  as  it  allowed  all  members — male  and  female — 
over  twenty-one  years  of  age  to  vote.      If  sanctioned  by 


228  WISCOXSfN  CONFERENCE. 

the  miDistry  and  laity,  two  lay  delegates  were  to  be 
elected  by  an  Electoral  Conference,  composed  of  laymen 
within  the  bounds  of  each  Annual  Conference,  to  meet 
once  in  four  years,  at  the  place  of  the  Annual  Conference 
session  next  preceding  each  General  Conference.  But  in 
case  an  Annual  Conference  was  entitled  to  but  one  delegate 
by  the  basis  of  representation,  then  only  one  lay  delegate 
was  allowed  from  its  territory. 

The  Conference  heartily  acquiesced  in  the  plan,  and 
pledged  faithful  co-operation  in  its  execution. 

The  Conference  still  watclied  with  careful  eye  the 
great  moral  issues  that  entered  into  our  National  politics; 
for  our  country  was  still  imperiled,  as  the  following  state- 
ments will  show. 

Andrew  Johnson,  President  since  the  assassination  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  in  April,  1865,  had  evidently  sold  him- 
self to  the  South,  and  was  in  complete  antagonism  to  the 
plans  of  Congress  to  reconstruct  and  restore  order  in  that 
part  of  our  country.  This  was  a  surprise  to  the  North,  as 
during  the  war  he  was  intensely  loyal.  On  the  day  of  his 
inauguration  as  Vice-President  he  was  so  grossly  intoxi- 
cated that  his  maudlin  utterances  were  a  disgrace  to  th(^ 
Nation.  It  was  suspected  by  some  that  the  South  cap- 
tured him  while  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  as  it  appears 
they  carried  the  question  of  Secession  by  the  same  fiery 
agency. 

Be  that  as  it  may,  it  was  soon  evident  that,  though  • 
slavery  as  a  system  was  destroyed,  its  spirit  was  not  dead. 
Violence  and  fraud  began  to  act  their  part  in  elections, 
and  the  lives  of  loyal  men,  white  as  well  as  colored,  were 
in  jeopardy.  The  Democratic  party  as  such  had  no  word 
of  protest  to  this  anti-American  policy.  It  was  thus  made 
evident  that  the  same  moral  issues  enter  into  the  present 
political  situation  that  were  involved  in  the  Rebellion. 
Hence  the  Conference  was  shut  up  either  to  silence  or  to 


ANNALS  OF  186S.  229 

partisanship.  But  as  silence,  when  moral  issues  are  pend- 
ing, is  either  cowardice  or  disloyalty  to  conviction,  it  could 
not  remain  silent.  And  as  the  ''partisanship"  was  either 
"  Christian  "  or  "  anti-Christian  "  in  character,  its  duty  was 
plain  ;  it  boldly  denounced  these  outrages. 

As  usual,  our  benevolent  and  humanitarian  interests 
were  duly  cared  for. 

Our  literary  institutions  were  considered  in  a  promising 
condition.  Our  cherished  university  was  still  in  need  of  a 
greatly  increased  endowment.  The  following  extract  from 
the  report  on  Education  shows  its  financial  condition  : 

"There  is  now  in  building,  grounds,  apparatus,  cabi- 
net, and  library,  property  to  the  amount  of  about  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five  thousand  dollars  (8185,000) ;  pro- 
ductive endowment  funds,  about  twenty-eight  thousand 
dollars  ($28,000)  ;  library  endowment,  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars (810,000)  ;  making  a  total  of  one  hundred  and 
seventy-three  thousand  dollars  ($173,000)." 

It  will  be  seen  that  only  a  small  portion  of  this  sum 
afforded  any  help  in  meeting  the  current  expenses  of  the 
school.  How  teachers  and  trustees  kept  heart  and  strug- 
gled on  is  marvelous. 

The  Evansville  Seminary  had  been  doing  ordinarily 
well ;  and  the  Biblical  Institute  at  Evanston,  Illinois,  in 
which  the  (conference  felt  a  deep  interest,  in  common  with 
several  other  Conferences,  was  constantly  rising  in  im- 
portance and  usefulness. 

A  request  came  from  parties  in  Whitewater  to  estab- 
lish a  "Seminary"  there,  accompanied  with  what  seemed 
to  be  a  fair  proposal  to  give  financial  aid  to  the  under- 
taking. The  matter  was  referred  to  a  large  and  judicious 
committee  of  ministers  and  laymen  to  consider,  and  with 
authority  to  act  in  a  specified  way. 

The  districts  remained  the  same  as  the  year  before,  but 
there  was  considerable  change  in  their  incumbents. 


230  WISCONSIN  CONFEBENCE. 

S.  C.  Thomas  and  C.  D.  Pillsbury,  who  had  been  on 
Milwaukee  and  Janesville  Districts  respectively,  were  ex- 
changed. 

P.  B.  Pease  succeeded  P.  S.  Bennett  on  Appletou  Dis- 
trict, and  T.  C.  Willson,  Joseph  Anderson  on  the  AVaupaca 
District.  W.  G.  Miller  only,  remained  in  his  former  field. 
Seven  were  received  on  trial ;  3  who  had  been  for 
a  time  in  the  local  ranks  were  readmitted  ;  4  located ; 
8  transferred  to  other  Conferences ;  29  were  placed  upon 
the  list  of  superannuates ;  3  were  appointed  to  educational 
work  ;  5  to  special  agencies ;  3  to  foreign  missionary  fields ; 
6  new  pastoral  charges  were  formed;  9  new  churches  were 
built;  and  13,010  ministers  and  members  were  reported. 
In  addition  to  these  the  old  church  at  Oconomowoc  was 
succeeded  by  a  far  better  one.  The  former  was  erected 
in  1851,  at  a  cost  of  $2,000,  and  would  seat  two  hundred 
and  fifty  persons.  The  cost  of  the  latter  was  $6,000.  It 
is  furnished  with  a  lecture-room  and  class-rooms,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  auditorium,  which  will  seat  about  four  hundred 
and  fifty. 

1869. 

This  year  our  Conference  was  held  the  second  time  in 
Appleton,  and  Bishop  Scott  appeared  for  the  fifth  time  as 
its  president. 

No  bishop  had  visited  us  officially  as  often,  and  no  one 
was  more  heartily  esteemed.  His  preaching  abilities  were 
not  of  the  highest  order,  but  he  was  exceedingly  well- 
balanced — weak  at  no  point.  He  had  filled  nearly  every 
office  in  the  gift  of  the  Church,  and  proved  equal  to  the 
demands  of  all.  He  seemed  to  have  the  meekness  of  Moses, 
combined  with  the  unimpeachable  fidelity  of  Daniel.  His 
heart  was  full  of  sympathy  for  all,  and  especially  for  the 
families  of  itinerant  ministers.  He  died  July  13,  1882, 
beloved  of  all  who  knew  him. 


ANNALS  OF  1869.  231 

There  is  a  little  variation  from  former  years  in  the  way 
the  secretaries  are  designated.     The  record  stands  thus  : 

"Rev.  S.  Fallows  was  re-elected  secretary,  and  Rev. 
W.  P.  Stowe  was  appointed  assistant  secretary  ;  Rev.  E.  D. 
Farnham,  recording  secretary;  and  Rev.  R.  W.  Bosworth, 
statistical  secretary." 

By  order  of  the  General  Conference,  fully  indorsed  by 
our  own,  a  vote  of  the  laity,  male  and  female,  had  been 
taken  in  the  month  of  June  preceding,  on  the  question  of 
lay  representation  in  the  General  Conference.  The 
result  in  our  bounds,  as  reported  at  this  session,  was  as 
follows : 

Whole  number  of  votes  cast, 3,189 

For  lay  delegation, 2,805 

Against  lay  delegation, 384 

Majority  for  lay  delegation, 2,421 

This  vote  did  not  indicate  a  great  amount  of  interest 
in  the  matter  pro  or  ewi. 

The  vote  of  the  Conference  was  more  general,  and  the 
proportionate  majority  for  the  measure  about  three  times 
as  large.  It  was  122  for,  and  4  against,  lay  delegation. 
The  Committee  on  the  proposed  Seminary  at  Whitewater 
appointed  the  year  before,  reported  adversely,  and  the 
matter  was  dropped.  Since  then  the  State  has  established 
a  normal  school  there.  But  this  fact  does  not  prove  that 
the  committee  or  the  Conference  acted  unwisely.  We  had 
already  on  our  hands  two  literary  institutions,  and  both 
were  struggling  for  continued  existence.  So,  while  we 
highly  appreciated  the  generous  offer  made  by  the  peo- 
ple of  that  fine  city,  w^e  did  not  deem  it  wise  to  accept 
it.  The  new  benevolent  enterprises — the  Church  Exten- 
sion, Freedmen's  Aid,  and  Ministerial  Educational  Soci- 
cieties — were  becoming  better  understood,  and  receiving 
more    attention    and    support    from    year    to   year.     And 


232  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

though  some  who  had  acquainted  themselves  very  thor- 
oughly with  them,  thought  the  Church  far  too  slow 
in  appreciating  their  claims,  she  was  by  no  means  indif- 
ferent, and  probably  moved  as  rapidly  as  was  reasonable 
to  expect.  It  takes  time  to  introduce  new  customs,  es- 
pecially so  if  they  call  for  money.  Still,  when  our  people 
see  a  worthy  cause,  they  are  not  disposed  to  close  their 
ears  to  its  cry  for  help.  To  give  the  reader  a  bird's  eye 
view  of  the  Church  Extension  Society,  a  condensed  account 
of  it  is  here  presented. 

The  Society  was  formed  by  direction  of  the  General 
Conference  of  1864,  then  in  session  in  Philadelphia,  and 
incorporated  by  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  on  the 
thirteenth  day  of  the  following  March.  Its  object  was  to 
aid  feeble  Churches  to  build  houses  of  worship.  This  it 
proposed  to  do  in  two  ways:  First,  by  direct  donation, 
on  express  condition  that  the  edifice  should  be  completed 
and  be  free  from  debt  after  applying  the  donation.  Sec- 
ondly, by  loans  to  such  Churches,  for  a  reasonable  time, 
with  or  without  interest,  at  the  discretion  of  a  competent 
**  Board  of  Managers,"  whose  head-quarters  are  in  Phila- 
delphia. Each  Annual  Conference  also  was  to  appoint  a 
board  to  aid  in  making  judicious  appropriations. 

All  applications  for  aid  must  be  made  through  this 
last-named  board  to  the  parent  board,  indorsed  by  the 
pastor  of  the  Church  and  presiding  elder  of  the  district  in 
which  it  is  located. 

In  this  way  an  injudicious  appropriation  is  very  im- 
probable. 

The  Society  is  mainly  supplied  with  funds  from  public 
collections,  to  be  taken  in  all  the  Churches  every  year ;  from 
private  donations  and  bequests;  it  also  receives  money 
from  parties  who  need  the  income  of  it  during  their  lives, 
or  for  a  specified  time,  and  places  it,  at  moderate  interest, 
where  it  will  help  a  poor  Church,  and  benefit  them  as  well. 


ANNALS  OF  1869.  233 

Donations  made  to  this  fund  are  carefully  looked  after, 
and  a  report  made  to  the  donors  of  the  good  work  accom- 
plished thereby. 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Temperance  this  year 
was  written  by  Geo.  C.  Haddock,  who  was  assassinated  by 
order  of  Gambrinus,  in  Sioux  City,  August  2,  1884. 
The  following  extract  will  show  that  he,  and  others  who 
are  in  earnest  for  "  practical  temperance  work,"  foresaw 
what  must  soon  be  done : 

''Inasmuch  as  the  present  political  organizations  in  our 
State  persistently  ignore  this  great  question,  .  .  .  we  see 
no  other  way  left  open  to  us  than  to  labor  for  the  speedy 
formation  of  a  political  organization  that  shall  have  for  its 
object  the  securing  of  prohibitory  legislation,  and  that 
will  present  pure,  virtuous  temperance  men  for  the  suf- 
frages of  the  people." 

In  the  general  plan  of  the  work  there  was  but  little  change. 
The   Norwegian    appointments   within    our  Conference 
limits,  that  were  transferred  to  the  West   Wisconsin  Con- 
ference in  1864,  were  this  year  re-transferred,  and  formed 
into  a  district,  with  A.  Haagersen  as  presiding  elder. 

H.  S.  White  succeeded  W.  G.  Miller  on  Fond  du  Lac 
District ;  the  appointees  to  the  others  were  the  same  as 
the  year  before. 

Our  number  in  the  ministerial  ranks  had  been  gradu- 
ally increasing  since  the  war.  This  year  9  were  received 
on  trial  and  2  readmitted ;  but  we  lost  2  by  withdrawal,  4 
by  transfer,  1  by  location,  and  1  by  death. 

Of  some  of  these  it  is  proper  to  add  a  few  words. 
A.  B.  Randall,  one  of  the  two  who  this  year  withdrew 
from  the  Church,  had  been  connected  with  the  Conference 
siace  1846.  He  was  a  man  of  good  ability,  and  had 
done  good  service  in  different  fields.  But  he  eventually 
found  himself  out  of  harmony  with  our  doctrines  and 
work,  in  consequence  of  his  affinity  for  spiritism. 


234  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Cyrus  Scammon  came  to  us,  in  1857,  from  Maine, 
where  he  had  been  for  some  time  in  the  itinerant  ministry, 
and,  after  filling  several  stations  with  fair  success,  be- 
came a  believer  in  Swedenborgianism,  and  peacefully  with- 
drew from  the  Church. 

T.  O.  HoLLiSTER,  a  mighty  man  of  God  and  a  most 
indefatigable  laborer,  had  passed  to  his  inheritance  be- 
yond the  flood.  For  about  seventeen  years  he  was  one  of 
our  most  reliable,  earnest,  and  successful  ministers,  both  in 
pastoral  and  district  work.  He  had  an  iron  constitution, 
yet  he  overtaxed  his  energies,  and  died  prematurely, 
March  13,  1869. 

The  reports  to  the  Conference  showed  an  increase  of 
eight  churches  and  five  parsonages,  with  an  increased 
valuation  of  $41,455.  Perhaps  the  most  successful  of  the 
eight  churches  are  those  in  Oshkosh  and  Bay  View. 

Occasional  services  were  held  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river,  in  Oshkosh,  in  the  Conference  year  1867-8.  At 
the  Conference  of  1868  the  place  was  made  a  pastoral 
charge,  to  which  C.  W.  Brewer  was  appointed.  A  society 
was  organized  of  thirty-five  members.  They  entered 
promptly  upon  the  erection  of  a  church  edifice,  and  ded- 
icated the  basement  on  the  6th  of  December  following. 
The  building  was  finished  in  1872,  during  the  pastorate 
of  J.  Anderson.  Much  embarrassment  was  experienced 
in  its  completion,  but  the  energy  and  push  of  the  pastor 
were  equal  to  the  emergency.  They  have  since  erected 
a  good  parsonage.  The  present  valuation  of  the  entire 
property  is  $8,500. 

Bay  View  may  be  noticed  in  another  place. 


ANNALS  OF  1870.  235 


CHAPTER  XII. 
1870-1. 

THE  Conference  of  1870  was  held  in  Court  Street 
Church,  Janesville,  commencing  October  12th.  This 
was  a  pastoral  charge  of  recent  origin.  Its  first  appear- 
ance in  the  Minutes  was  in  1869.  Two  sessions  of  the 
Conference  had  been  held  in  the  "First  Church,"  in  1854 
and  1860. 

We  were  pleased  to  greet  Bishop  Davis  W.  Clark  for 
the  second  time  as  president. 

According  to  the  record,  "Rev.  Samuel  Fallows  was 
re-elected  secretary,  and  W.  P.  Stowe,  W.  W.  Case,  E.  D. 
Farnham  and  S.  Smith  were  appointed  assistant  sec- 
retaries." 

There  seems  but  little  to  record  this  year,  unless  we 
look  into  the  work  of  individual  Churches.  But  as  this 
would  require  too  much  space,  the  reader  must  accept  a 
brief  sketch. 

The  work  is  growing  moderately.  Nine  were  received 
on  trial,  five  were  transferred  to  us  from  other  Confer- 
ences, and  two  were  received  from  other  denominations. 
Per  contra,  two  located,  and  seven  were  trauferred  to  other 
Conferences,  leaving  a  net  gain  in  our  ministerial  force 
of  only  seven. 

Five  new  names  of  pastoral  charges  appear ;  but  Clem- 
ensville  and  Menominee  Falls  being  merely  changes  of 
names,  there  were  really  but  three.  At  the  latter  place 
H.  W.  Frink  formed  a  class  in  1839,  while  in  charge  of 


236  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Watertown  Mission  ;  but  Samuel  Pillsbury,  in  charge  of 
Aztalan  Circuit,  visited  the  place  and  preached  there 
in  1837. 

The  districts  and  their  incumbents  were  the  same  as 
last  year.  We  were  evidently  looking  after  various  in- 
terests, as  four  were  appointed  to  the  Bible  agency,  two  to 
the  Seaman's  Friend  work,  three  to  the  educational  field, 
and  four  to  foreign  missions. 

One  of  our  number,  Rev.  S.  Fallows,  had  been  hon- 
ored with  an  election  to  the  State  Superintendency  of 
Public  Instruction,  and  the  Conference  unanimously  re- 
quested the  bishop  to  appoint  him  thereto.  A  favorable 
recognition  of  public  schools  by  the  Conference  was  noted 
in  the  annals  of  1865. 

This  year  the  Conference  appointed  a  Committee  on  the 
"  Relation  of  the  Church  to  Common  Schools."  Dr.  G.  M. 
Steele,  president  of  our  university,,  was  chairman.  Their 
entire  report,  heartily  adopted  by  the  Conference,  is 
worthy  a  place  in  these  pages ;  but  a  brief  extract  must 
suffice : 

"The  common-school  system  is  the  offspring  of  the 
religion  of  the  Bible.  The  opponents  of  a  real,  and  the 
advocates  of  an  emasculated  or  spurious  Christianity,  make 
much  boast  of  their  zeal  for  popular  education  ;  but  it  re- 
mains historically  demonstrable  that  nowhere  except 
among  Evangelical  Protestants  has  a  i)lan  of  instruction, 
embracing  all  the  children  of  the  community,  ever  been 
adopted.  It  is  true  that  even  in  false  religions,  in  propor- 
tion as  they  have  approximated  the  true,  there  has  been 
an  influence  favorable  to  education ;  and  out  of  these  va- 
rious religions  have  come  all  the  successful  systems  of 
mental  training  the  world  has  ever  seen.  Atheism  and  ir- 
religion  have  never  devised  any  permanent  scheme  with 
this  object  in  view." 

Verv  different   is  the  tone  of  this  from  the  violent  as- 


ANNALS  OF  1870.  237 

sault  of  the  Roman  Catholic  priesthood  upon  our  common 
school  system,  one  of  the  pillars  of  our  National  fabric. 

Our  general  educational  interests  appeared  to  be  in  a 
prosperous  condition,  though  this  year  Evansville  Semi- 
nary disappears  from  our  records. 

Eight  new  church  edifices  were  reported — in  one  of 
which  the  Conference  held  its  session.  Its  estimated  value 
was  S35,000.  A  part  of  this  value  is  in  two  stores  in  the 
first  story.  Over  these  is  a  fine  auditorium,  50  by  75  feet, 
that  will  seat  600  persons;  also  a  Sunday-school  room,  40 
by  50  feet;  two  class-rooms,  20  by  20  feet,  and  a  good  hall 
for  various  religious  and  humanitarian  [)urp()ses.  It  is  a 
massive  brick  edifice,  in  good  architectural  taste,  and  seems 
well  located  (on  the  corner  of  Court  and  Main  Streets)  for 
a  "People's  Church." 

A  beautiful  brick  church  had  been  erected  at  Wauwatosa 
also.  This  place  had  been  the  head  of  a  circuit  for  twenty- 
two  years;  and  although  three  church  edifices  had  been 
built  within  its  boundaries  this  growing  village  had  re- 
maiued  destitute  of  one  till  now. 

The  enterprise  was  undertaken  with  some  misgivings  as 
to  success  ;•  but  enconraged  by  the  zeal  and  liberality  of 
the  pastor — J.  P.  Roe,  to  whom  much  credit  is  due — the 
small  band  worked  with  great  harmony  and  pushed  it  to 
completion.  The  edifice  is  65  by  36,  feet  w^ith  additi(jn  in 
the  rear  of  24  by  30  feet.  The  auditorium  will  seat  325 
persons.  Its  valuation  iu  1889  was  $10,000,  and  a  fine 
brick  parsonage  near,  erected  about  ten  years  after  the 
church  edifice,  is  valued  at  $4,000.  They  are  models  of 
neatness  and  convenience. 

Statistics  do  not  always  indicate  the  exact  progress  of 
religious  work.  Still  they  are  an  important  factor  in  the 
problem.  By  these  we  must  judge  of  the  work  of  this 
year.  Tlie  reports  show  an  increase  of  communicants  in 
the  Church  of  519  ;  of  church  edifices,  6  ;  of  parsonages,  3  ; 


238  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

with  an  increased  aggregate  value  of  $205,530.  Also 
an  increase  of  54  Sunday-schools  and  1,412  scholars.  But 
in  the  general  benevolences  there  was  a  decrease. 

1871. 

For  the  third  time  Milwaukee  was  this  year  favored 
with  the  session  of  our  Conference,  and  for  the  third  time 
it  was  favored  with  Bishop  Simpson  as  president,  who 
called  it  to  order  in  Sumraerfield  Church  at  nine  o'clock 
A.  M.,  October  11,  1871.  As  a  presiding  officer  his  ability 
did  not  rise  above  that  of  some  of  his  colleagues  in  the 
episcopacy.  But  as  a  preacher  he  had  a  world-wide  repu- 
tation, and  for  occasional  sermons  especially,  he  was  doubt- 
less the  "  Prince  of  the  American  pulpit."  Gentle,  court- 
eous, kind,  he  was  a  favorite  with  all.  This  was  his 
last  official  visit  to  our  Conference.  He  continued  to  do 
grand  service  to  the  Church  until  June  18,  1884,  when 
he  joined  the  long  list  of  victors  through  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb  beyond  the  conflicts  of  time. 

As  to  the  other  Conference  officers  the  record  says : 

"  S.  Fallows  was  elected  secretary;  E.  D.  Farnham, 
recording  secretary  ;  S.  Smith,  statistical  secretary  ;  and 
W.  P.  Stowe  and  W.  W,  Case,  assistant  secretaries." 
Afterwards  the  last  named  was  excused  from  acting. 

The  general  plan  of  the  work  was  about  the  same  as 
during  the  two  previous  years.  The  districts  were  the 
same,  and  their  incumbents  the  same. 

There  was  an  increase  of  but  three  pastoral  charges. 
The  reader  will  see  the  reason  for  a  less  increase  in  this 
respect  than  in  former  years,  if  he  will  note  that  the  coun- 
try has  been  pretty  well  covered  by  our  work  for  some 
time,  and  hence  new  charges  are  formed  more  by  division 
of  old,  than  by  acquisition  of  new  territory. 

But  four  were  this  year  received  on  trial.  Two  were 
received  by  transfer,  and  one  from  another  branch  of  the 


ANNALS  OF  1871.  239 

Methodist  Church.  But  as  three  were  transferred  to  other 
Conferences,  and  three  removed  by  death,  the  addition  to 
the  ministerial  force  was  very  small. 

The  action  of  the  Conference  in  regard  to  the  various 
lines  of  benevolence  and  moral  reform  was  similar  to  that 
of  former  years.  The  following  extract  from  the  report 
on  Temperance,  written  probably  by  G.  C.  Haddock,  will 
show  the  unwavering  firmness  of  the  body : 

"  We  can  not  but  regard  it  as  wicked  and  grossly  in- 
consistent for  men  professing  to  be  Christian  and  temper- 
ance men  to  vote  for  individuals  who  are  in  sympathy 
with  the  liquor-interest.  In  the  present  status  of  political 
affairs  there  is  no  question  before  the  people  that  can  at 
all  compare  with  the  suppression  of  the  liquor-traffic,  with 
all  its  attendant  evils;  and  when  we  are  brought  to  a 
point  where  loyalty  to  the  party  is  treason  to  temperance 
and  morality,  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  course 
which  temperance  men  ought  to  take.  They  must  be 
true  to  their  highest  moral  convictions,  whatever  may  be- 
come of  parties  or  politics." 

It  would  be  very  assuring  of  speedy  victory  over  the 
liquor-power  if  all  "professing  to  be  Christian  and  tem- 
perance men  "  stood  firmly  on  this  platform. 

A  spirited  discussion  occurred  in  connection  with  the 
report  on  "  Popular  Amusements."  In  the  preamble  were 
urged  what  seems  to  the  writer  very  sensible  reasons  why 
Christian  people  should  refrain  from  certain  ones,  even  if 
in  theynselves  they  are  not  vicious,  such  as  dancing,  theater- 
going, card-playing,  and  the  like.  Then  came  a  supposed 
question  from  the  laity:  "How  about  croquet?  If  you 
ministers  play  this  for  amusement,  and  become  all  ab- 
sorbed in  it,  as  some  of  you  seem  to,  may  not  we  play 
at  other  games  for  the  same  purpose  ?"  To  this  it  was 
replied :  ' '  Some  of  us  play  at  croquet  for  mental  relaxa- 
tion.     If  we  have   reason    to    believe  that   many  of  our 


240  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

people,  good  and  true,  see  in  this  the  appearance  of  evil, 
we  feel  bound  by  Scripture  authority  to  desist."  This 
part  of  the  report  elicited  the  discussion  referred  to. 

The  report  closed  with  a  resolution,  "  that  such  amuse- 
ments as  dancing,  playing  at  cards,  circus  and  theater- 
going, are  inconsistent  with  Christian  character ;"  and  all 
was  adopted. 

The  long  struggle  for  the  admission  of  laymen  to  the 
General  Conference  had  culminated  in  the  triumph  of  the 
proposed  measure.  And  as  the  Sixteenth  Delegated  Gen- 
eral Conference  was  to  be  held  in  the  May  following,  an 
electoral  Conference  was  held  on  Friday  afternoon,  Octo- 
ber 13,  1871,  to  elect  lay  delegates  thereto.  Each  pas- 
toral charge  was  entitled  to  one  delegate  to  this  body, 
and  this  body  was  authorized  to  elect  two  representatives 
to  the  General  Conference.  Eighty-five  responded  to  the 
roll-call.  Edwin  Hyde  was  elected  president,  Byron  Kings- 
bury, vice-president;  George  F.  Lane,  secretary.  R.  P. 
Elmore,  of  Milwaukee,  and  Hon.  W.  P.  Lyon,  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Wisconsin,  were  elected  delegates  to  the 
General  Conference ;  and  Professor  H.  A.  Jones,  of  the 
Lawrence  University,  and  Byron  Kingsbury,  of  Ripon, 
reserve  delegates. 

This,  be  it  remembered,  was  the  first  gathering  of  the 
kind  within  our  Conference  territory,  and  they  expressed 
their  strong  attachment  to  the  Church  of  their  choice, 
which,  under  God,  had  done  so  much  for  the  world.  Just 
the  Sabbath  previous  to  the  session  of  these  Conferences — 
viz.,  Octobers,  1871 — the  great  fires  occurred  which  re- 
duced to  ashes  the  best  part  of  Chicago,  utterly  annihilated 
Peshtigo,  in  Northern  Wisconsin,  and  nearly  devastated  a 
large  region  in  that  part  of  our  State.  Both  Conferences  ex- 
pressed their  warm  sympathy  for  the  sufferers,  and  planned 
for  substantial  aid.     This  was  seemly  and  a  natural  result 


ANNALS  OF  1871.  241 

of  Christianity — a  striking  contrast  to  the  indifference  of 
the  heathen  world  in  like  circnmstances. 

The  visible  fruit  of  the  year's  work  was,  on  the  whole, 
encouraging.  The  reports  show  an  increase  of  9  churches 
and  7  parsonages,  with  an  increase  in  the  valuation  of 
church  property  of  $22,350.  Also,  an  increase  of  22 
Sunday-schools  and  983  scholars,  a  large  increase  of  the 
benevolences,  and  a  total  increase  of  the  ministry  and  laity 
of  1,162. 

The  ministerial  delegates  to  the  General  Conference 
were  G.  M.  Steele,  P.  B.  Pease,  H.  Bannister,  C.  D. 
Pillsbury,  W.  G.  Miller.  Reserves— S.  Fallows,  W.  H. 
Sampson,  W.  P.  Stowe. 

Three  preachers  had  died,  and  the  wives  of  four  others. 

Rev.  Isaac  Searls,  who  entered  the  itinerancy  in  the 
Rock  River  Conference  in  1841,  but  did  not  become  iden- 
tified with  the  work  in  Wisconsin  till  1847,  closed  his 
earthly  life,  December  8,  1870,  in  Brandon,  to  which  place 
he  was  appointed  at  the  previous  Conference.  He  was  a 
safe,  reliable  man,  had  done  good  work  as  pastor  and  as 
presiding  elder,  and  commanded  universal  respect.  His 
robust  constitution  seemed  to  promise  more  years ;  but  by 
such  cases  we  are  often  reminded  that  "the  battle  is  not 
to  the  strong."  The  closing  scene  with  him  was  glorious. 
He  said:  ''Jesus  is  mine,  Jesus  is  mine.  He  saves  to  the 
uttermost.  He  saves  me  to  the  uttermost.  I  am  standing 
on  the  Rock,  on  the  Rock!" 

Thomas  Hughs  was  received  on  trial  in  our  Confer- 
ence in  1863,  did  good  work  among  his  Welsh  countrymen 
for  a  few  years,  then  passed  to  the  superannuate  list,  and 
died,  a  few  weeks  before  the  present  Conference,  in  Utica, 
New  York. 

R.  H.  Stinchfield  came  to  us  in  1864,  by  transfer 
from  the  Maine  Conference,  and  died  suddenly  on  his  way 

20 


242  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

to  an  evening  Church  service,  December  8,  1870.  He  was 
reputed  as  a  very  good  man,  but  did  only  a  little  service  in 
our  Conference. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Moulthrop,  wife  of  Rev.  L.  F.  Moulthrop, 
was  numbered  among  the  dead  at  some  time  during  the 
past  year ;  but  the  writer  has  not  been  able  to  learn  just 
when.     She  was  highly  esteemed  by  those  who  knew  her. 

Mrs.  Mary  S.  Jones,  after  a  brief  sojourn  in  a  re- 
ligious life  and  in  the  itinerancy  with  her  husband,  Rev. 
H.  H.  Jones,  "died  in  great  peace,"  in  Lowell,  Novem- 
ber 11,  1870. 

Mrs.  Susannah  Teal  died,  after  a  brief  illness,  Jan- 
uary 27,  1871.  Her  husband,  Rev.  W.  Teal,  "ever  found 
her  a  faithful  wife,  calm  and  trusting ;  a  safe  counselor,  a 
devoted  mother ;  esteemed  and  loved  by  all." 

Mrs.  Ruth  L.  Woodruff  is  the  last  of  the  long  mor- 
tuary list  for  this  year.  She  died  September  3,  1871.  For 
eight  years  she  worked  faithfully  with  her  husband.  Rev. 
W.  Woodruff,  in  the  itinerancy,  and  calmly  met  her 
last  foe. 


ANNALS  OF  1872.  243 


CHAPTER  XIII. 
1872-3. 

ON  the  9th  of  October,  1872,  the  Wisconsin  Conference 
convened  in  Division  Street  Church,  Fond  du  Lac, 
for  its  annual  session. 

Twenty  years  before,  we  were  cordially  greeted  by  the 
people  of  this  rising  city,  and  held  our  fijik  session  there 
in  a  much  smaller  building — the  first  Methodist  church 
edifice  erected  in  the  place.  Now  we  met  for  our  twenty- 
sixfh  session— the  ecclesiastical  year  having  outstripped  the 
solar,  in  the  ratio  of  twenty  to  nineteen.  The  reader  will 
find  the  key  to  this  problem  in  the  annals  of  1859. 

Once  in  the  interim  the  Conference  had  been  enter- 
tained in  that  City  of  Fountains,  so  this  was  its  third 
session  there. 

The  present  church  edifice  was  originally  built  to 
propagate  a  sort  of  religious  latitudinarianism,  sometimes 
called  ''Liberal  Christianity" — liberal,  indeed,  to  almost 
everything  but  real  Christianity.  The  building  is  50x104 
feet.  Our  people  purchased  it,  and  refitted  it  by  adding 
a  basement  above  ground,  containing  Sunday-school  and 
class-rooms,  all  well  finished,  at  a  cost  of  $23,000.  The 
audience-room  seats  650,  and  the  orchestra  60.  It  is  now 
called  Division  Street  Church.  About  three  years  after 
this  Conference  session,  it  was  graced  with  a  three-thousand- 
dollar  organ. 

Bishop  Gilbert  Haven  presided  over  our  deliberations 
for  the  first  and  last  time.     He  was  elected  to  the  episco- 


244  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

pacy  in  the  month  of  May,  next  preceding,  and  thus  was 
young  in  the  office.  Yet  his  administration  was  able  and 
satisfactory.  In  many  respects  he  was  a  very  remarkable 
man.  As  a  preacher  he  may  not  have  excelled.  As  a 
writer  he  did.  In  versatility,  scope,  and  strength  of 
thought,  elegance,  and  even  fascination  of  style,  he  had 
few  equals.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  convictions,  and  as 
fearless  as  John  Knox  in  proclaiming  them.  For  many 
years  he  was  one  of  the  foremost  in  the  Nation  in  cham- 
pioning the  rights  of  the  colored  race.  It  is  said  that  as 
the  time  for  the  election  of  bishops  approached  in  the 
General  Conference,  these  people  held  prayer-meetings 
nightly,  and  prayed  for  the  election  of  ''Massa  Haven." 
He  chose  Atlanta,  Georgia,  as  his  episcopal  residence,  and 
commanded  the  respect  of  all  fair-thiiikiug  people  there, 
as  elsewhere,  notwithstanding  occasional  insults  offered  by 
the  fire-eaters  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 
On  the  third  day  of  January,  1880,  he  passed  very  tri- 
umphantly to  his  inheritance  on  high. 

For  the  ninth  successive  year  S.  Fallows  was  elected 
secretary  of  the  Conference — the  longest  term  any  one  has 
served  us  in  that  capacity.  He,  being  authorized,  ap- 
pointed W.  P.  Stowe,  assistant;  E.  D.  Farnham,  record- 
ing secretary ;  and  S.  Smith  and  G.  S.  Hubbs,  statistical 
secretaries. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  body  it  was  ordered 
"  that  all  the  proceedings  of  the  Conference  be  printed  in 
full  in  the  Minutes,  and  that  such  printed  Minutes,  suita- 
bly bound,  shall  be  sent  up  to  the  General  Conference  as 
the  journal  of  this  Conference." 

This  new  departure  was  a  very  sensible  one,  and  if  all 
Annual  Conferences  w^ould  adopt  the  same,  they  would 
confer  a  great  favor  on  the  General  Conference  committee 
that  have  to  examine  and  report  on  all  their  journals 
during  the  preceding  quadrennium. 


ANNALS  OF- 1872.  245 

Among  the  first  things  that  impressed  us  in  this  annual 
gathering  was  tlie  fact  that  five  of  our  ministers,  and  the 
wife  of  another,  had  passed  to  their  inheritance  on  the 
other  shore  since  we  last  met.  Heuce,  it  was  fittingly 
arranged  to  hold  "suitable  memorial  services."  These 
took  place  on  the  fourth  day  of  the  session,  at  which  time 
their  memoirs  w^ere  presented,  and  the  "burial  service 
read  in  a  most  solemn  manner." 

vSome  of  us  had  observed  that  the  omission  of  prayer 
at  the  close  of  our  public  services  was  becoming  more  fre- 
quent ;  so  the  matter  was  brought  before  the  Conference, 
and  with  much  emphasi?;  it  was  voted  that  at  such  times 
"  prayer  should  seldom,  if  ever,  be  omitted."  Probably 
this  action  produced  good  results.  Nothing  seems  more 
appropriate  than  to  follow  the  service  of  preaching  the 
word,  and  singing  the  songs  of  Ziou,  with  an  earnest 
prayer  for  the  divine  blessing  upon  the  sacred  service. 
Better  leave  off  five  minutes  of  the  most  interesting  ser- 
mon, if  need  be,  than  to  omit  this.  It  is  said  that  the 
closing  prayers  of  the  great  Doctor  Bunting  contributed 
largely  to  the  effectiveness  of  his  ministry. 

About  this  time  the  observance  of  Child ren's-day  was 
provided  for,  and  the  Conference  heartily  commended  it  to 
our  people. 

The  report  on  Education  had  some  features  of  special 
interest.  Of  course  the  success  of  our  cherished  university 
\vas,  as  ever,  an  important  object  of  solicitude.  J.  P. 
Roe  had  been  agent  during  the  year  just  closed,  and  had 
succeeded  well,  having  obtained  in  cash  and  in  pledges 
about  thirty  thousand  dollars  for  the  endowment  fund.  A 
gracious  revival  influence  also  had  pervaded  the  institu- 
tion, and  a  considerable  number  of  the  students  had  been 
converted. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  great  fire  in  Chicago. 
By  that  fire  the    Garrett  Biblical  Institute — to  which  our 


246  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Conference  holds  a  close  relation — lost  from  its  endowment 
fund  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  in- 
vested in  buildings  in  that  ill-fated  city.  But,  with  great 
sacrifice  on  the  part  of  teachers,  this  "School  of  the 
Prophets"  continued.  Meanwhile,  by  the  generous  as- 
sistance of  friends  in  other  parts  of  our  great  country, 
its  heavy  loss  was  partially  repaired,  and  it  was  moving 
on  with  encouraging  success.  Four  of  its  last  graduates 
had  started  for  mission-work  in  India.  The  Scandinavian 
brethren  were  moving  vigorously  to  establish  a  depart- 
ment in  the  Institute  for  the  education  of  their  young 
ministers. 

The  Conference  maintained  its  former  position  relative 
to  humanitarian  and  reformatory  agencies.  A  law  known 
as  the  "  Graham  Act,"  had  been  enacted  by  our  State 
Legislature,  intended,  probably,  to  curtail  intemperance 
more  than  its  predecessor.  Though  not  satisfactory  to  us, 
we  pledged  ourselves  to  its  enforcement  till  we  could  ob- 
tain something  better.  The  Conference  also  gave  a  scath- 
ing rebuke  to  those  civil  oflficers  who  persistently  neglect 
to  enforce  the  laws  according  to  their  sworn  obligations. 
The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  was  formally 
indorsed  by  the  last  General  Conference,  and  as  heartily 
approved  by  ours,  at  this  session,  as  an  agency  to  accom- 
plish a  work  that  no  other  can. 

The  Scandinavian  work  among  us  had  assumed  consid- 
erable proportions.  From  a  small  beginning  in  1850, 
two  presiding  elders'  districts  had  been  developed  among 
the  nationalities  comprehended  in  that  name.  One  of 
these  was  connected  with  the  Minnesota  Conference,  the 
other  with  the  Wisconsin.  Of  the  pastoral  charges  be- 
longing to  the  latter,  one  was  in  Chicago  and  one  in  Ev- 
anston,  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

Meanwhile,  also,  a  Danish-Norwegian  Department  in 
the  Northwestern  University  had    been   established,   with 


ANNALS  OF  1872.  247 

great  promise  of  usefulness.     Karl  Schou  was  the  teacher 
therein. 

Just  before  the  hour  of  service,  one  Sabbath  morning 
in  March,  1872,  our  church  edifice  in  Appleton  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire.  Though  it  was  a  sad  sight  to  see  a  place 
rendered  dear  by  so  many  hallowed  associations  thus  con- 
sumed, yet  perhaps  it  was  a  "  blessing  in  disguise."  The 
growing  congregation  needed  a  larger  place  of  worship, 
and,  however  it  might  have  been  but  for  this  fire,  all  felt 
the  necessity  of  the  immediate  erection  of  a  new  church. 
That  morning  the  people  met  in  the  college  chapel  for 
service,  which  continued  to  be  their  place  of  worship  for 
several  months.  The  trustees  moved  promptly,  and  soon 
the  present  beautiful  edifice  was  commenced,  the  corner- 
stone of  which  was  laid  on  the  eighth  day  of  October  fol- 
lowing, with  appropriate  religious  services,  conducted  by 
Bishop  Gilbert  Haven.  This  church  will  receive  further 
notice  hereafter. 

Thirteen  came  to  us  by  transfer  and  readmission  ;  3 
located ;  1  withdrew,  and  8  were  transferred  to  other  Con- 
ferences.    Some  of  the  latter  returned  to  us. 

Two  deserve  special  notice — A.  H.  Walter  and  J. 
Howd.  The  former  came  to  us,  by  transfer,  from  North 
Ohio  Conference,  in  1851.  On  the  division  of  Conference 
in  1856,  he  fell  into  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference,  but 
in  1865  was  transferred  to  ours,  and  stationed  at  Green 
Bay.  He  did  good  work  in  both  Conferences,  and  died 
in  Kansas,  a  few  months  since,  after  much  and  prolonged 
suflfering.  The  latter  was  received  on  trial  in  1854,  and 
labored  successfully  in  various  fields  till  1864,  when  he 
was  appointed  missionary  to  the  Oneida  Indians.  He  re- 
mained there  till  this  year,  and  did  a  grand  work.  His 
transfer  was  to  Central  New  York  Conference,  in  which 
he  was  very  successful,  until  his  health  failed.  In  the 
winter  of  1885  he  returned  to  Wisconsin,  and  reluctantly 


248  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

(oD  account  of  feeble  health)  again  took  charge  of  Oneida 
Mission,  but  was  compelled  to  desist  entirely  from  work 
after  a  little  over  two  years. 

There  was  no  change  in  the  number  or  names  of  the 
districts  ;  but  in  the  appointees  there  were  several  changes, 
though  only  two — C.  D.  Pillsbury  and  S.  C.  Thomas — 
retired  from  the  presiding  eldership. 

To  Milwaukee,  Janesville,  Appletou,  and  Waupaca 
Districts  were  assigned,  respectively,  W.  P.  Stowe,  P.  B. 
Pease,  T.  C.  Willson,  and  A.  J.  Mead.  The  others  re- 
mained. 

Though  this  can  not  be  regarded  as  the  most  successful 
year  of  our  history,  the  reader  will  see  by  the  appropriate 
appendices  that  considerable  was  done  all  along  the  lines 
of  Christian  activity. 

Five  preachers  were  called  to  their  reward  during  the 
year. 

Aurora  Calender  was  born,  October  23,  1778;  con- 
verted in  1818 ;  joined  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1828  ; 
came  West  in  1859,  after  which  time  he  labored  in  the 
Wisconsin  and  West  Wisconsin  Conferences  until  1863, 
when  he  was  returned  superannuated.  While  in  our  Con- 
ference he  was  at  one  time  presiding  .elder  of  the  Norwe- 
gian District,  and  in  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference  he 
was  once  in  charge  of  Mineral  Point  District.  Most  of 
the  time  he  was  in  the  pastorate.  He  was  a  true  man, 
faithful  in  his  work,  and  died  of  typhoid  fever,  October 
23,  1871,  in  Pinckneyville,  Illinois. 

Thos.  Wilcox  died  of  pneumonia,  near  Elkhorn,  April 
19,  1872,  aged  sixty-one  years.  He  commenced  his  min- 
istry in  1838,  in  Oneida  Conference,  New  York.  In 
1856  he  was  transferred  to  ours,  and  did  effective  work 
till  1862,  when  he  retired  from  the  active  ranks.  He 
lived   well  and  died  well,  saying  to  his  pastor,  about  an 


ANNALS  OF  1873.  249 

hour  before    his   death,    he    was    learning  by    experience 
"the  triumph  of  faith." 

John  Hill  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  Belfast, 
January  14,  1834.  In  1855  he  joined  the  North  Indiana 
Conference.  In  1868  he  w^as  transferred  to  ours,  and  ap- 
pointed to  Cotton  Street  Church,  Fond  du  Lac.  His  sub- 
sequent appointments  were  Summerfield,  Milwaukee,  and 
Bay  View.  In  this  latter  place  he  finished  his  work. 
On  the  30th  of  April,  1872,  he  was  thrown  from  a  wagon 
and  received  an  injury  that  terminated  fatally  in  about 
twenty  hours. 

E.  W.  KiRKHAM,  a  native  of  Wales,  came  to  us  by 
transfer  from  the  Ohio  Conference,  in  1866,  and  w'as  sta- 
tioned successively  at  Whitewater  and  Court  Street,  Janes- 
ville.  *  In  this  latter  place  his  health  failed.  His  mind 
also  seemed  unbalanced.  He  died  in  Minneapolis,  Minne- 
sota, May  2,   1872. 

Keuben  B.  Curtiss  died  May  21,  1872,  in  Appleton, 
where  he  had  resided  for  some  time  after  he  retired  from 
.the  active  ministry.  He  entered  the  itinerant  ministry  in 
Maine,  in  1845.  In  1862  he  came  to  us,  and  preached 
about  five  years  in  Janesville  and  Delavau  respectively. 
He  had  evidently  been  a  strong  man,  but  his  work  was 
mostly  done  before  he  came  West.  Indeed,  he  ought  to 
have  retired  from  labor  much  sooner  than  he  did,  but 
his  interest  in  the  cause  impelled  him  on.  His  last  at- 
tempt to  preach  was  in  Appleton,  in  the  month  of  No- 
vember, 1871,  from  Revelation  vii,  14.  He  doubtless 
knows  more  noW'  of  that  blood-washed  company  than  he 
did  then. 

1873. 

The  General  Conference  held  in  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
in  May,  1872,  elected  eight  bishops — the  largest  addition 
to  our  episcopacy  ever  made  at  one  time.  One  of  these 
was  S.  M.  Merrill.     At  the  General  Conference  of  1868 

21 


250  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

he  liad  distinguished  himself  as  the  leader  of  opposition  to 
the  introduction  of  lay  delegates  to  the  highest  ecclesias- 
tical body  in  our  Church  until  the  question  was  submitted 
to,  and  sanctioned  by,  the  Annual  Conferences.  The  plan 
he  advocated  was  adopted,  and  resulted  as  already  stated. 
He  was  elected  editor  of  the  Western  Christian  Advocate, 
published  in  Cincinnati.  There  he  distinguished  himself 
as  an  able  writer  and  strong  defender  of  evangelical  Chris- 
tianity, as  embodied  in  the  doctrines  and  polity  of  our 
Church.  It  Avas  therefore  very  natural  for  the  General 
Conference  to  regard  him  as  a  proper  man  for  a  bishop. 
On  the  15th  of  October,  1873,  he  appeared  as  the  presi- 
dent of  our  Conference,  in  the  city  of  Whitewater,  where 
we  had  previously  held  one  session. 

Henry  Colman  was  elected  secretary ;  A.  Moore,  A.  A. 
Hoskins,  and  E.  B.  Cummings,  assistants;  S.  Smith, 
statistical  secretary;  and  M.  V.  B.  Bristol,  assistant. 

Our  people  in  Whitewater  had  just  erected  a  fine 
church  edifice  at  a  cost  of  about  twenty-five  thousand  dol- 
lars. But  as  it  was  not  quite  ready  for  occupancy,  the 
Congregatioualists  kindly  proffered  the  use  of  theirs,  and 
most  of  the  sessions  were  held  there,  for  which  the  Con- 
ference made  grateful  acknowledgment.  Much  credit  is  due 
the  pastor,  Rev.  C.  N.  Stowers,  for  pushing  the  enterprise 
so  near  to  completion.  But  already  an  embarrassing  debt 
had  been  incurred,  so  the  preachers  had  an  opportunity  to 
render  material  aid,  which  they  cheerfully  improved. 

For  several  months  before  the  Conference  began,  there 
was  considerable  excitement  over  reported  deals  in  silver- 
mining  stock  in  the  far  West.  Several  had  been  engaged 
in  them.  All  but  one,  however,  showed,  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  Conference,  that  their  transactions  were 
honorable.  The  exception  was  H.  S.  White,  who  was 
put  on  trial,  and  suspended  for  one  year  from  the  func- 
tions of  the  ministry.     This  is  not  the  place  to  pass  judg- 


ANNALS  OF  1873.  251 

ment  upon  the  guilt  or  innocence  of  the  accused.  That 
was  done  by  a  properly  constituted  tribunal.  But  it  is 
proper  to  say  that  in  a  state  of  high  excitement  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  give  palliating  circumstances  due  weight.  Such 
may  have  been  the  case  in  this  instance. 

With  the  exception  of  this  unpleasant  matter,  this 
session  was  quite  uneventful. 

The  plan  of  the  work  was  the  same  as  the  preceding 
year,  except  that  G.  C.  Haddock  succeeded  H.  S.  White  as 
presiding  elder  on  Fond  du  Lac  District. 

We  see  very  little  change  for  the  last  two  or  three 
years,  either  in  the  membership  or  in  the  general  work  of 
the  Churches  within  our  bounds. 

The  Conference  maintained  its  usual  firm  stand  in 
regard  to  the  great  reforms  of  the  day. 

The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  was  a  newly 
organized  agency  for  conveying  the  blessings  of  ihe  gospel 
to  heathen  women.  Though  the  "good  tidings  of  great 
joy"  Avere  designed  for  "all  people,"  yet  in  parts  of  the 
earth,  particularly  in  India,  women  were  as  completely 
shut  in  from  these  tidings  as  if  surrounded  with  w-alls  of 
adamant  as  high  and  impregnable  as  those  of  Babylon. 
The  society  above  named  had  been  in  operation  in  some 
parts  of  our  country  long  enough  to  prove  its  claim  to 
recognition  by  the  Churches  as  an  important  auxiliary  to 
our  parent  Missionary  Society.  Within  our  territory  it 
had  been  operating  only  during  the  preceding  year,  yet  its 
report  of  $2,128  evinced  a  healthy  organism,  and  gave  an 
earnest  of  the  success  that  has  so  far  attended  it. 

Two  transfers  came  to  us  from  another  Conference,  and 
ten  were  received  on  trial. 

Two  located— A.  P.  Allen  and  C.  E.  Goldthorp.  The 
former  had  resided  in  Colorado  for  some  time,  engaged  in 
secular  business.  He  died,  a  few  years  since,  at  an  ad- 
vanced age.     The  latter  soon  returned  to  the  Conference 


252  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

and  is  making  a  good  record  as  an  efficient  minister  of  the 
gospel. 

Thomas  Orbison  bad  died.  He  entered  our  Confer- 
ence in  1851,  having  been  a  Wesleyan  Methodist  in  Ire- 
land for  several  years.  With  the  exception  of  a  temporary 
location,  he  continued  in  the  efTective  ranks  till  the  Con- 
ference of  1872,  when  he  was  placed  on  the  list  of  super- 
numeraries. The  Conference  closed  on  the  14tb  of 
October,  and  on  the  10th  of  the  next  month  he  was  called 
to  his  reward,  with  very  little  premonition  of  his  approach- 
ing end.  He  was  the  first  to  be  buried  in  the  beautiful 
''Riverside  Cemetery,"  in  Appleton. 

The  reports  show  a  decrease  in  the  aggregate  number 
of  ministers,  members,  and  probationers,  of  forty-three  ; 
but  there  was  a  large  increase  in  the  benevolences,  and  an 
addition  of  eleven  Churches  and  three  parsonages,  with  an 
increased  valuation  of  $46,322. 

A.  C.  Manwell,  who  came  to  us  in  1857,  by  transfer 
from  an  Eastern  Conference,  left  us  this  year  by  transfer 
to  the  Upper  Iowa  Conference,  where  he  is  doing  good 
work  as  he  did  with  us. 

E.  H.  Bronson  was  transferred  to  the  Minnesota,  and 
G.  A.  England  to  Colorado  Conference.  For  ten  years 
the  latter  had  been  with  us,  and  had  rendered  valuable 
service.  Though  of  a  frail  constitution,  he  'continued  to 
work  on  in  different  lines  for  several  years  after  his  transfer. 

Mrs.  Lydia  A.  Shepherd  died  October  14,  1873,  just 
the  day  before  our  Conference  assembled.  She  is  repre- 
sented as  a  noble  Christian  woman,  faithfully  working 
with  her  husband,  Rev.  S.  V.  R.  Shepherd,  for  twenty 
years  in  his  ministry.  Her  last  hour  is  described  thus : 
"  Being  full  of  confidence  in  Christ  her  Savior,  she  passed 
away,  while  a  radiance  overspread  her  face  as  if  a  view  of 
the  excellent  glory  was  given  to  her  as  she  crossed  the 
river."     Thus  she  closed  her  life,  loved  and  esteemed  by  all. 


ANNALS  OF  1874.  253 


CHAPTER  XIV. 
1874-5. 

THE  twenty-eighth  session  of  our  Conference  was  held 
in  Oshkosh,  commencing  October  7,  1874,  Bishop 
R.  S.  Foster  presiding.  Ten  years  before,  we  had  met  in 
the  same  growing  city,  under  the  presidency  of  Bishop  Scott. 

Henry  Col  man  was  elected  secretary,  with  S.  Halsey 
and  A.  A.  Hoskins,  assistants.  S.  Smith,  L.  N.  Wheeler, 
and  G.  W.  Wells  were  the  statistical  secretaries. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  emigration  began 
to  seriously  affect  our  Churches  all  through  the  State. 
During  the  war  a  large  draft  was  made  upon  them,  which 
greatly  retarded  progress.  Many  who  returned  from  the 
bloody  fields  had  become  impressed  with  the  possibilities  of 
the  South ;  hence  an  attraction,  hitherto  feeble,  became 
quite  potent.  Meanwhile  the  cheap  and  fertile  plains  of 
the  West  continued  to  draw  the  attention  of  all  classes, 
especially  of  honest  laborers.  In  addition  to  these  causes, 
and  operating  with  them  in  the  same  direction,  was  a  gen- 
eral financial  crash,  which  began  to  be  severely  felt  about 
this  time.  -Many  heavy  failures  occurred  in  business  circles ; 
manufacturing  institutions  suspended  or  curtailed  operations 
all  through  the  land.  Thus  thousands  were  thrown  out  of 
employment,  and  compelled  to  seek  homes  in  other  places. 
Of  course  either  the  South  or  the  West  was  their  only  resort. 
And  as  our  Church  was  largely  represented  in  this  class,  it 
suffered  severely  from  these  causes. 

True,  there  was  an  increasingly  large  immigration  to 
our  State,  but  the  incomers  were  of  many  nationalities,  few 


254  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

of  whom  were  accessible  by  our  agencies.  It  is,  therefore, 
not  strange  that  we  made  little  advance  during  these  years. 

Since  our  last  session  five  had  been  transferred  to  other 
Conferences.  Two  of  these — viz.,  C.  G.  Lathrop  and  Samuel 
Fallows — deserve  a  more  extended  notice  than  can  well  be 
given  in  these  pages. 

The  former  had  been,  since  1842,  one  of  our  most  faithful 
and  reliable  workers.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  native  powers, 
considerable  mental  culture,  and  good  preaching  ability. 
No  interest  committed  to  his  care  suffered  from  neglect. 
If  occasionally  he  was  too  straight,  as  some  thought,  it  was 
always  evident  that  his  conviction  of  right  was  the  motive 
power.  Since  his  transfer  he  has  been  doing  effective  work 
in  the  Nebraska  Conference. 

The  latter.  Dr.  S.  Fallows,  came  to  us  by  transfer  in 
1861,  and  was  stationed  successively  at  Oshkosh,  Apple- 
ton,  Sunmierfield,  and  Grand  Avenue — the  last  two  charges 
being  in  Milwaukee.  In  all  of  these  places  he  greatly  en- 
deared himself  to  the  people,  and  took  high  rank  both  as 
a  man  of  fine  culture  and  as  an  "able  minister  of  the  New 
Testament."  While  in  his  last  pastorate,  in  1871,  he  was 
appointed  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  and 
served  in  that  important  work,  by  elections,  until  1874, 
when,  having  been  elected  to  the  presidency  of  the  Illi- 
nois Wesleyan  University,  he  was  transfered  to  the  Illinois 
Conference.  In  May,  1875,  he  united  with  the  Reformed 
Episcopal  Church,  and  became  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church 
of  that  denomination  in  Chicago.  On  the  15th  of  July, 
1876,  he  was  elected  a  bishop  in  that  newly  formed  body,  in 
which  office  he  has  continued  to  increase  in  popularity  and 
usefulness  to  the  present  time. 

Jas.  Lavelle  also  had  been  connected  with  the  Confer- 
ence for  several  years.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  1860, 
had  succeeded  fairly  well,  and  was  transferred  to  the  New 
Jersey  Conference. 


ANNALS  OF  1S74.  255 

T.  E.  Webb  came  to  us  by  transfer  at  the  last  Confer- 
ence, and  in  the  interim  had  secured  a  transfer  to  the 
Northwest  Indiana  Conference. 

O.  P.  Peterson  had  been  in  the  Norwegian  work  since 
1869,  and  was  transferred  to  the  New  York  East  Conference. 

In  the  annals  of  last  year,  mention  was  made  of  the 
suspension  of  H.  S.  White.  At  this  session  a  long  com- 
munication was  received  from  him,  severely  criticising  the 
action  of  the  Conference  in  his  case.  He  was  allowed  to 
locate,  but  was  justly  rebuked  by  the  adoption  of  the 
following  resolution  : 

'' Resolved,  That  the  communication  received  from  Rev. 
H.  S.  White,  and  read  before  the  Conference,  is  untrue 
in  some  of  its  statements,  unjust  in  its  insinuations,  and  of 
such  a  character  as  not  to  be  allowed  to  pass  without  dis- 
approval." 

On  the  Sabbath,  Bishop  Foster  preached  a  very  able 
sermon  from  Acts  x,  43.  He  presented  a  strong,  logical, 
and  convincing  chain  of  argument  showing  that  ''Jesus 
was  the  Christ."  The  next  day  the  Conference  requested 
its  publication. 

The  bishop  is  a  remarkable  man.  Before  he  was  thirty 
years  of  age  he  had.  a  newspaper  controversy  with  Dr. 
Rice,  an  Old-school  Presbyterian  Doctor  of  Divinity,  of 
Cincinnati,  in  which  city  he  also  was  a  pastor.  His  articles 
were  afterwards  embodied  in  a  book  entitled,  "  Objections 
to  Calvinism."  It  is  the  most  complete  refutation  of  Old- 
school  Calvinism  known  to  the  writer.  When  elected  to 
the  episcopacy  in  1872,  he  was  a  professor  in  Drew  Theo- 
logical Seminary.  But  with  all  his  ability,  there  was  some- 
thing for  him  to  learn  in  his  new  office,  as  the  following 
incident  will  show :  In  his  address,  just  before  reading  the 
appointments,  he  told  us  that  he  had  been  for  several  days 
in  a.  focus,  at  which  all  possible  rays  of  light  had  coucen- 
trated,  as  to  matters  pertaining  to  the  appointments.     But 


256  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

only  a  few  minutes  after  adjournment  "  rays  of  light,"  en- 
tirely unanticipated,  began  to  pour  upon  him,  and  he  felt 
compelled  to  change  some  of  the  appointments. 

The  reports  of  the  usual  committees  did  not  contain 
anything  specially  new.  They  showed  a  firm  adherence  to 
principles  and  work  already  described  in  these  pages.  There 
was  one.  however,  on  a  subject  not  before  included  in  our 
list.  It  was  on  "  Fraternal  Relations,"  It  was  designed 
to  promote  harmony  between  difl^erent  denominations, 
especially  in  places  where  there  seems  to  be  a  call  for  but 
one.  Our  Conference  was  the  first  to  appoint  a  fraternal 
delegate,  and  invite  other  religious  bodies  to  do  the  same. 
It  was  also  the  first  to  move  in  this  matter. 

It  is  a  little  remarkable  that  none  left  us  by  transfer 
at  this  session,  though  five,  as  already  stated,  had  thus 
been  removed  since  our  previous  session. 

Six  came  to  us  by  readmission  and  transfer,  and  six- 
teen were  received  on  trial. 

The  effective  ministerial  force  was  155,  of  which  three 
were  missionaries  to  Denmark,  and  fourteen  to  Norway. 

There  was  no  change  in  the  districts,  and  but  two 
changes  in  their  incumbents — A.  J.  Mead  followed  C.  G. 
Haddock  on  Fond  du  Lac  District,  and  Geo.  Fellows,  Mr. 
Mead  on  Waupaca  District. 

The  year  was  not  one  of  marked  success.  Only  three 
new  church  edifices  were  reported,  and  these  of  small 
dimensions.  Our  Church  property  at  Neenah,  however, 
was  greatly  improved  by  the  sale  of  a  small  edifice  and 
the  purchase  of  a  much  larger  one.  This  has  been  im- 
proved from  time  to  time,  and  is  now  a  very  commodious 
house  of  worship.  It  will  seat  three  hundred  to  four  hun- 
dred people,  and  is  valued  at  $6,000.  The  parsonage 
there  is  valued  at  $1,500,  and  Ave  have  a  living,  active 
membership. 


ANNALS  OF  1875.  257 

1875. 

This  year,  for  the  third  time,  Racine  was  favored  with 
our  Conference  session,  commencing  on  the  thirteenth  day 
of  October.  "Favored?"  Yes.  The  presence  of  a  hun- 
dred and  fifty  ministers  in  any  place  for  a  week,  reporting 
their  work  and  planning  for  another  year's  campaign, 
ought  to  be  a  benediction ;  and  from  the  way  our  people 
welcome  us  the  second,  third,  or  fourth  time,  we  have  rea- 
son to  suppose  they  so  regard  it.  At  this  Conference 
Bishop  I.  W.  Wiley  presided.  Like  the  three  that  next 
preceded  him,  he  was  elected  to  the  episcopacy  in  1872. 
Previous  to  this  he  had  honored  the  Church  as  a  medical 
missionary  in  China  four  years ;  as  principal  of  Pennington 
Seminary,  New  Jersey,  five  years;  and  as  editor  of  the 
Ladies^  Repository  (now  superseded  by  the  Methodist  Maga- 
zine), four  years.  Though  young  in  his  present  office,  he 
had  already  evinced  a  creditable  adaptation  to  it. 

The  secretaries  were  the  same  as  the  previous  year, 
with  one  exception — P.  W.  Peterson  took  the  place  of 
L.  N.  Wheeler. 

It  seems  unnecessary  to  detail  the  proceedings  of  the 
body  relative  to  the  various  lines  of  work  on  which  it  had 
been  operating,  as  they  were  so  similar  to  those  of  several 
successive  years  in  the  past.  It  is  noteworthy,  however, 
that  no  diminution  of  earnestness  was  discernible. 

A  very  singular  case  of  ministerial  defection  had  come 
to  light  tl'uring  the  year.  J.  M.  Crais:,  who  had  been  or- 
dained an  "elder  in  the  Church  of  God"  at  our  last  an- 
nual session,  was  soon  after  reported  guilty  of  stealing 
books  at  different  times,  and  on  a  pretty  large  scale.  At 
this  Conference  he  was  tried,  and  expelled  from  the  min- 
istry and  membership  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
In  defense  he  pleaded  "  kleptomania ;"  that  is,  a  species  of 
insanity  that  so  impels  one  to  steal  that  he  is  not  responsi- 


258  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

ble  for  his  acts  ia  stealing.  The  committee,  however,  who 
adjudicated  the  case — fifteen  in  number,  with  G.  M.  Steele 
as  chairman,  very  competent  men — were  not  convinced  that 
he  was  a  kleptomaniac.  In  their  view,  there  was  every  in- 
dication of  a  long-continued  disposition  to  steal,  which  he 
had  cultivated,  just  as  all  thieves  do.  This  sad  case  is 
dismissed  with  the  remark  that  it  nearly  wrecked,  one  of 
our  best  pastoral  charges. 

O.  B.  Thayer  and  Moses  Alley  withdrew  from  the 
connection  at  this  Conference.  The  former  came  to  us  a 
few  years  before  from  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church, 
and,  as  has  too  often  been  done  by  us  with  men  we  know  not, 
was  appointed  to  a  very  important  charge,  and  advanced 
to  those  still  more  so  for  several  years,  being  held  up  by 
the  strength  of  the  Churches  he  served,  until  he  finally — 
collapsed.  The  latter  was  received  on  trial  in  1864.  He 
might  have  succeeded  well  had  he  given  a  few  years  to 
study  before  entering  the  work.  But  he  was  nearly  ruined 
by  flattery  in  his  early  itinerant  ministry.  He  failed  to 
meet  the  expectations  he  at  first  awakened.  Both  of  these 
entered  the  ministry  of  the  Congregational  Church ;  but 
succeeded  no  better  than  with  us. 

E.  D.  Huntley  was  transferred  to  the  West  Wisconsin 
Conference,  and  W.  W.  Case  to  the  Cincinnati  Conference, 
w^here  he  is  doing  very  effective  work,  as  he  did  with  us. 
Mr.  Huntley  will  come  to  view  again  in  connection  with 
our  educational  interests. 

One  of  our  number,  W.  W.  Warner,  had  died. 
"  Eleven  years  he  had  been  a  member  of  the  Erie  Confer- 
ence, and  then  came  by  transfer  to  ours,  where  he  labored 
for  about  four  and  a  half  years.  His  ministry  was  marked 
with  unusual  success.  It  is  believed  that  more  than  one 
thousand  souls  were  converted  as  the  direct  and  immediate 
result  of  his  ministry,  covering  a  period  of  less  than  seven- 
teen years." 


ANNALS  OF  1S75.  259 

Seven  were  added  to  our  ranks  by  transfer,  and  eight 
were  received  on  trial. 

Our  lists  of  supernumeraries  and  superannuates  had  be- 
come very  large,  the  former   seven,  the  latter  thirty-one. 

Our  people  at  Racine  were  burdened  with  a  heavy 
debt,  incurred  in  the  erection  of  a  new  house  of  worship. 
So  the  preachers  at  this  Conference,  as  at  Whitewater  two 
years  before,  had  an  opportunity  to  materialize  their  liber- 
ality. Unfortunately,  much  injudicious  management  had 
attended  the  enterprise.  It  was  attributed  to  the  pastor, 
by  whose  influence  the  contract  for  building  was  let  to  irre- 
sponsible parties  from  abroad,  which  resulted  in  a  loss  of 
several  thousand  dollars,  and  a  poorly  built  edifice.  This 
produced  great  disaffection,  not  only  in  the  membership  of 
the  Church,  but  with  responsible  resident  contractors,  and 
thus  shut  off  the  sympathy,  to  a  considerable  extent,  of 
those  without. 

This  church  was  greatly  needed.  It  was  located  on  the 
corner  of  Eighth  and  Main  Streets — a  very  eligible  site. 
The  cost  of  the  ground  was  $3,250,  that  of  the  organ 
$3,500,  and  that  of  the  building  itself  $35,850.  It  was 
dedicated  on  the  first  Sabbath  in  July,  1871.  Its  seating 
capacity  was  nine  hundred. 

Six  other  churches  were  erected  during  the  year  where 
none  had  previously  existed.  The  reader  will  see  their 
locations  in  Appendix  I. 

In  short,  there  was  a  fair  advance  on  all  the  lines  of 
Christian  work. 


260  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  XV. 
1876-7. 

WAUPACA  was  the  seat  of  our  Conference  in  1876. 
It  being  a  small  city,  and  our  numbers  having  in- 
creased, some  doubted  whether  our  people  could  entertain 
us  without  embarassment.  But  they  gave  us  a  royal  wel- 
come. Indeed,  the  whole  community  seemed  interested, 
and  cordially  assisted  in  making  us  ''feel  at  home."  Our 
session  was  evidently  a  blessing  to  the  place,  and  to  the 
Conference  as  well. 

For  years  all  that  region  had  been  supplied  mostly 
by  young  men,  and  scarcely  one  of  the  older  members 
of  our  Conference  were  willing  to  go  there.  It  was  not 
only  the  frontier,  but  was  known  as  the  "Indian  land," 
and,  for  some  reason,  was  not  so  attractive  as  Oklahoma 
is  now.  Much  of  the  prejudice  against  it  was  probably 
removed  by  personal  observation. 

On  the  4th  of  October  the  Conference  was  called  to 
order  by  Bishop  Thomas  Bowman.  He  was  one  of  the 
eight  elected  at  the  General  Conference  of  1872.  At  the 
time  of  his  election  he  was  president  of  Indiana  Asbury 
University.  The  secretaries  were  the  same  as  the  year 
before.  Thus  organized,  the  Conference  proceeded  to  its 
usual  work. 

Methodism  was  introduced  here  in  a  somewhat  early  day. 
The  place  appears  first  as  a  pastoral  charge  in  1851,  and 
at  the  next  Conference  a  new  church  edifice  was  reported. 
It  was  a  plain  wooden   building,  well  suited  to   the  time 


Rev.   STEPHEN   SMITH.  Rev.  C.  D.  PILLSBURY,  A.  M. 


Rev.   henry  SEWELL.  Rev.  C.  W.  GALLAGHER.  D.  D. 


ANNALS  OF  1S7G.  261 

aud  place.  The  one  in  which  w^  met  this  year  was  begun 
in  May,  1874,  and  dedicated  in  February,  1875.  It  is 
80x30  feet  in  size,  with  a  transept  on  each  side,  and  will 
seat  about  three  hundred  people.  It  is  a  brick  building, 
with  good  architectural  proportions,  and  cost  S10,000. 
The  entire  Church  property  here,  including  a  parsonage,  is 
valued  this  year  at  813,500. 

One  member,  C.  R.  Chapin,  who  had  proved  to  be 
"unacceptable"  to  the  people — really  a  failure  as  a 
preacher — was  located  without  his  request.  This  was  in 
accordance  with  a  rule  of  Discipline  authorizing  an  Annual 
Conference  to  thus  do  with  any  member  who  is  adjudged 
to  be  unacceptable  in  the  sense  above  indicated. 

Early  in  the  Conference  session  we  find  the  following 
action:  "A.  E.  Wanlass,  seconded  by  L.  N.  Wheeler  and 
G.  M.  Steele,  offered  the  following  resolutions,  which,  after 
some  remarks  by  Dr.  Edwards,  were  adopted : 

"Whereas,  Section  2,  Article  II,  of  the  Constitution 
of  the  Conference  Missionary  Society  is  comparatively  a 
dead  letter,  being  inoperative  during  the  interim  of  Con- 
ferences ; 

^'Resolved,  That  the  officers  and  managers  of  the  Con- 
ference Missionary  Society  be,  ex  officio,  sl  committee  to  ar- 
range for  and  assist  in  getting  up  anniversaries  and  such 
other  exercises  as  shall  be  deemed  necessary  and  effective 
in  securing  the  success  contemplated  in  the  organization  of 
the  Society. 

^'Resolved,  That  the  presiding  elders  and  pastors  through- 
out the  Conference  recognize  this  committee  as  such,  and 
co-operate  with  them." 

This  surely  augured  great  advance  in  this  line  of  work, 
and  especially  so  as  two  of  the  movers  of  the  resolutions 
were  returned  missionaries  from  foreign  fields,  and  leading 
officers  (president  and  secretary)  of  the  society.  But  for  some 
reason  the  resolutions,  if  not  "  comparatively  a  dead  letter," 


262  WISCONSTN  CONFERENCE. 

did  not  accomplish  what  they  were  intended  to.  There 
was,  indeed,  an  advance  in  the  collections  the  following 
year,  though  they  did  not  reach  the  amount  of  some  former 
years.  Nor  were  the  "anniversaries,"  etc.,  inaugurated 
to  any  considerable  extent,  if  at  all.  But  why  may  not 
this,  or  something  similar,  become  a  part  of  our  missionary 
work  every  year? 

The  Conference  continued  its  cordial  approval  of  the 
Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society.  Mrs.  Dr.  Steele 
was  the  president  of  that  society  in  our  Conference. 

A  proposition  came  from  the  General  Conference  to  so 
alter  the  **  Second  Restrictive  Kule"  of  our  Church  con- 
stitution as  to  allow  that  body  to  make  the  basis  of  repre- 
sentation one  to  every  ninety-nine  members  of  Annual 
Conferences,  other  provisions  of  the  Rule  remaining  un- 
changed. This  received  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  Con- 
ference. 

On  another  proposition  from  the  same  source,  to  alter 
the  "  Third  Restrictive  Rule,"  so  as  to  give  each  Confer- 
ence authority  to  determine  the  number  of  districts  they 
will  have — ^^ Provided,  no  Conference  shall  have  less  than 
two  nor  more  than  eight  districts;  nor  shall  any  district 
have  more  than  sixty  pastoral  charges" — the  Conference 
voted  51  in  favor,  and  46  against. 

Our  educational  interests  were  carefully  looked  after ; 
nor  were  any  other  lines  of  work  neglected.  The  uni- 
versity, that  had  been  from  the  first  a  cherished  child,  still 
needed  care.  From  a  lack  of  adequate  endowment,  and 
the  failure  of  certain  parties  to  meet  their  pledges,  it  be- 
came so  embarrassed  that  this  Conference  decided  to  ap- 
peal to  the  Churches  for  aid  by  special  collections.  Though 
the  necessity  of  this  ought  not  to  have  existed,  the  appeal 
was  eminently  just.  The  institution  had  furnished  the 
Churches  with  twenty  ministers,  and  sent  back  to  them 
many  of  their  sons  and  daughters  with  renewed  lives  and 


ANNALS  OF  1S7G.  263 

cultured  minds.  Tlie  Church  therefore  owed  the  college 
more  tlian  a  debt  of  gratitude. 

A  stroug  report  from  the  "  Committee  on  Temperance 
and  Tobacco,"  of  which  W.  H.  Thompson  was  chairman, 
and  H.  Sewell  secretary,  was  adopted.  In  it  we  find  the 
following:  "  The  existence  of  980,000  drones  in  our  na- 
tional hive;  the  example  of  750,000  regular  drunkards; 
the  incubus  of  800,000  paupers;  the  tears  of  200,000 
orphans  bedewing  the  graves  of  65,000  victim-fathers; 
the  ravings  of  30,000  maniacs;  the  crimes  of  200,000 
criminals  in  our  jails;  the  ignorance  of  2,000,000  children, 
debarred  from  our  public  schools ;  a  host  of  women  chained 
by  solemn  vows  to  the  rotting  carcasses  of  sottish  and 
brutal  men;  and  an  army  of  recruits,  consisting  of  1,000,- 
000  young  men,  under  drill  for  the  drunkard's  degradation 
and  doom,  cry  aloud  to  the  Christian  Church  to  help  heal 
this  festering  sore,  'and  drain  the  land  of  this  Dead  Sea  of 
crime,  heart-breaks,  poverty,  widowhood,  orphanage,  idiocy, 
madness,  delirium,  and  death." 

Then  follow  three  resolutions  pledging  continued  activity 
in  driving  this  scourge  from  the  land.  After  a  few  earnest 
w^ords  relative  to  the  use  of  tobacco  "in  the  ministry  and 
membership,"  two  resolutions  follow,  not  lacking  in  per- 
pendicularity of  sentiment.     Here  they  are  : 

^'Besolved,  That  we  will  continue  to  associate  the  use  of 
tobacco  with  the  vice  of  intemperance,  and  enter  our  com- 
plete protest  against  its  use  by  the  ministry  of  our  Confer- 
ence and  the  membership  of  our  Church. 

'^ Resolved,  That  w^e  will  hereafter  refuse  to  receive  into 
our  Conference,  either  on  trial  or  into  full  connection,  any 
one  who  uses  tobacco. 

As  early  as  1857  the  Conference  passed  resolutions 
substantially  the  same  as  the  last ;  but  after  nearly 
twenty  years  of  trial  we  were  ready  to  reaffirm  our  de- 
termination. 


264*  WISCONSfN  CONFERENCE. 

As  good  as  this  report  was,  one  important  thing  was 
omitted;  viz.,  the  use  of  alcohoh'c  wine  in  the  eucharist. 
We  had  years  before  recommended  ''that  stewards  take 
pains  always  to  provide  the  pure,  unfermented  juice  of 
the  grape,  and  never  the  fermented  wine  in  common  use." 
But  this  "recommend"  had  not  accomplished  the  desired 
end;  so  at  this  Conference  a  resolution  was  presented  and 
passed  pledging  our  own  action,  viz.  : 

"  Resolved,  That  we  will  make  special  efforts  to  have 
our  Churches  procure  and  use  only  the  unfermented  juice 
of  the  grape  in  the  sacrament  of  the  Lard's  Supper." 

At  this  Conference  two  that  had  been  in  our  ranks  in 
other  years  returned  by  transfer.  One,  F.  S.  Stein,  was 
readmitted,  having  been  a  member  of  a  Western  Confer- 
ence; and  eight  were  received  on  trial. 

William  Averill  and  C.  R.  Chapin  were  located — the 
latter  as  already  described.  Mr.  Averill  entered  our  work 
in  1852,  and  though  in  the  local  ranks  several  years  dur- 
ing the  interim,  he  did  good  service  while  in  the  Confer 
ence.  His  name  now  appears  in  our  Minutes  for  the  last 
time. 

Edrick  Holmes,  after  giving  several  years  to  our  work 
with  fair  success,  withdrew  from  the  Church. 

L.  F.  MouLTHROP  "rested  from  his  labors"  in  April 
next  preceding  the  present  session.  The  reader  will  re- 
member him  as  one  of  our  heroic  pioneers.  He  entered 
our  work  in  1840,  and  for  several  years  was  very  success- 
ful on  Racine,  Troy,  and  Prairie ville  (now  Waukesha) 
Circuits.  In  failing  health  he  located,  not  being  willing  to 
become  a  burden  to  the  Conference  for  so  few  years  of 
service.  He  recuperated,  was  employed  at  different  times 
to  fill  vacancies,  and  in  1859  was  readmitted.  For  several 
of  his  last  years  he  was  on  the  list  of  superannuates. 

John  Haw,  a  promising  young  man,  was  transferred  to 
the  West  Wisconsin  Conference;  and  fifteen  Norwegians, 


ANNALS  OF  1S77.  265 

who  had  been  for  some  time  missionaries  to  their  native 
land,  were  transferred  to  the  newly  formed  Conference  there. 
Among  these  was  C.  Willerup,  the  father  of  the  Norwegian 
work  in  Wisconsin.  He  will  receive  further  notice  in  the 
account  of  that  work. 

For  a  year  or  two  our  advance  has  been  very  moderate. 

Four  changes  occurred  this  year  among  the  presiding 
elders.  W,  G.  Miller  was  appointed  to  Milwaukee  Dis- 
trict, W.  P.  Stowe  to  Janesville  District,  J.  W.  Carhart 
to  Appleton  District,  and  J.  H.  Johnson  to  tlie  Norwegian 

District. 

1877. 

The  Conference  met  this  year  in  Waupun,  on  the 
eleventh  day  of  October.  Many  yeats  before  we  accepted 
an  invitation  to  hold  the  following  session  there ;  but  by 
some  special  effort  the  motion  fixing  that  as  the  place  of 
meeting  the  next  year  was  reconsidered,  and  the  Confer- 
ence voted  to  meet  in  another  place.  It  is  probable  the 
people  of  Waupun  deemed  this  rather  unkind  treatment; 
so  it  seemed  to  some  of  the  preachers,  at  least.  We  were 
cordially  received  and  well  entertained,  though  a  large 
number  of  the  preachers  found  themselves  in  the  State 
Penitentiary,  and  some  even  in  the  cells  before  the  session 
closed.  Yet  they  did  not  deem  their  incarceration  there  a 
punishment. 

Bishop  Jesse  T.  Peck  presided  at  this  Conference.  He 
was  the  sixth  in  succession  of  the  eight  elected  to  the  epis- 
copacy in  1872  that  had  come  to  us  officially.  Like  all 
our  bishops  he  was  very  prominent  before  election  to  this 
office.  He  was  an  influential  member  of  the  Black  Kiver 
(now  Northern  New  York)  Conference  when  the  writer  en- 
tered that  body  a  half  century  ago.  He  was  then  principal 
of  the  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary.  In  the  educational 
field  he  was  subsequently  principal  of  the  Troy  Conference 
Seminary   and  president  of  Dickinson  College.     He  after- 

22 


266  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

wards  spent  seveml  years  iu' California,  doing  heroic  work. 
At  his  elevation  to  the  episcopacy  he  was  pastor  of  Uni- 
versity Avenue  Church,  in  Syracuse,  where  he  aided,  by 
his  enlarged  experience,  and  otherwise,  in  founding  the 
Syracuse  University,  one  of  the  most  important  institu- 
tions of  the  kind  in  our  denomination. 

The  secretaries  of  the  last  two  sessions  were  all  re-elected. 
At  sDme  time  in  the  Conference  1844-5,  Joseph  Lewis,  in 
charge  of  Fond  du  Lac  Circuit,  had  visited  this  place  and 
formed  a  class  of  six  members — all  belonging  to  the  Miller 
family,  the  youngest  of  whom  was  Wesson  G.,  who  after- 
wards became  prominent  in  our  ministerial  ranks.  A  house 
of  worfhip  there  was  first  reported  in  1854.  This  had  been 
lengthened  once  or  t?wice,  making  its  length  and  width  out 
of  proper  proportion.  It  had  now  fallen  far  behind  the 
growing  demands  of  the  place. 

At  this  Conference  two  were  transferred  to  us,  and  three 
received  on  trial — the  smallest  addition  to  our  ministerial 
force  for  many  years.  One  located,  one  had  died,  and  two 
were  transferred  to  other  Conferences. 

Thus  we  entered  upon  the  work  of  the  next  year  with 
very  little  change  in  our  active  ranks. 

H.  H.  Jones  was  the  one  referred  to  as  located.  He 
was  a  true  man,  but  did  not,  for  the  few  years  he  was  with 
us,  take  high  rank. 

Eugene  I.  Alltng,  who  died  on  the  24th  of  August 
of  this  year,  had  been  connected  with  the  Conference  less 
than  three  years.  He  was  a  man  of  earnest  piety,  and, 
had  his  life  and  health  been  spared,  would  doubtless  have 
accomplished  much  for  the  Master.  His  death  was  more 
than  peaceful.  His  obituary,  as  published  in  the  Minutes, 
closes  thus:  "  He  longed  for  rest;  and  the  happy,  peace- 
ful look  that  settled  upon  his  dead  face  told  of  a  joyful 
entering  into  'the  rest  that  remaineth  to  the  people  of 
God.'" 


ANNALS  OF  1S77.  267 

The  wives  of  four  of  the  preachers  died  during  the 
year. 

Mrs.  I.  M.  White,  whose  husband  was  in  his  second 
year  of  probation  in  the  Conference,  passed  peacefully  to 
her  rest,  April  2,  1877,  in  the  twenty-third  year  of  her  age. 
Thus  early  was  a  promising  life  of  usefulness  terminated. 

In  contrast  to  hers,  in  point  of  years,  was  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Kev.  Asahel  Moore,  who  died  March  9,  1877,  aged 
fifty -eight  years,  about  forty  of  which  had  been  given  to 
our  itinerant  work,  with  her  husband,  in  Maine  and  Wis- 
consin, when  the  Master  said,  "Come  up  higher."  All  ac- 
counts represent  her  as  a  noble  woman  and  an  active 
Christian. 

Mrs.  Isabella  H,  B.  Walker  closed  her  work  after 
a  sojourn  on  earth  of  nearly  thirty-seven  years,  a  life  with 
God  of  about  twenty-three  years,  several  of  which  were  in 
the  itinerant  work  with  her  husband,  Rev.  T.  H.  Walker. 
She  was  a  devoted  Christian,  and  "  died  well,"  in  full  pros- 
pect of  "  home,  home,  home,"  which  she  uttered  three 
times  just  before  she  departed. 

Mrs.  Jane  E.  Carpenter,  wife  of  Rev.  C.  E.  Carpen- 
ter, an  honored  member  of  Wisconsin  Conference,  is  the 
last  whose  death  is  this  year  recorded.  During  her  hus- 
band's absence  at  the  last  Conference  she  was  attacked 
with  typhoid  fever,  but,  after  a  while,  so  far  recovered  as 
to  be  thought  able  to  move  to  the  new  pastoral  charge,  to 
which  he  had  been  assigned.  It  was,  however,  too  hard  a 
strain  on  her  enfeebled  system,  and,  on  the  16th  of  De- 
cember, 1876,  she  succumbed  to  the  great  destroyer,  in 
Palmyra,  at  the  age  of  forty-one. 

The  year  seems  to  have  been  marked  with  at  least  or- 
dinary prosperity,  there  being  an  increase  of  639  in  the 
membership,  and  of  $936  in  the  benevolent  collections. 


268  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

1878-9. 

ON  the  second  day  of  October,  1878,  the  ^Yiscous^n 
Conference  convened  at  Fort  Atkinson,  witlj  Bishop 
Foster  as  president.  The  organization  was  completed  by 
the  election  of  the  same  secretaries  as  had  served  for  the 
three  next  preceding  sessions. 

Fort  Atkinson  is  a  fine  town  on  Rock  River,  perhaps 
sixty  miles  from  its  source.  For  several  years  of  our  early 
history  it  was  a  point  in  the  old  Aztalan  Circuit.  It  thus 
continued  until  1854,  when  that  honored  name,  Aztalan, 
that  had  been  in  our  Minutes  since  1837,  gave  place  to 
Lake  Mills  and  Fort  Atkinson,  and  ceased  to  indicate  the 
head  of  a  pastoral  charge.  The  first  class  was  formed  here 
by  Rev.  H.  W.  Frink,  in  the  Conference  year  1839-40, 
in  the  house  of  Jesse  Roberts,  a  little  west  of  the  present 
site  of  the  town.*  The  church  was  commenced  in  1850,  and 
soon  completed.  The  parsonage  was  built  in  1865.  The 
church  property  has  been  improved  at  different  times,  and 
the  place  ranks  well  with  our  Conference  appointments. 

We  did  not  find  an  embarrassing  debt  here,  as  at  some 
other  places ;  but  a  very  urgent  appeal  for  relief  on  this 
score  came  to  us  from  Oshkosh.  A  few  years  before,  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  there  had  purchased  a 
large  building,  in  process  of  erection,  commenced  for  an 
opera-house.     The  pastor.    Dr.    J.    W.   Carhart,   found  it 


Its  jubilee  was  celebrated  January  19-26,  1890. 


ANNALS  OF  1S78.  269 

could  be  procured  at  a  very  reasonable  rate,  and  became 
deeply  interested  in  securing  it  for  a  sanctuary.  The 
growing  Church  and  congregation  needed  something  of 
the  kind.  He  therefore  moved  promptly  in  the  matter, 
and  induced  the  trustees  to  purchase  it.  Some  thought 
this  movement  was  too  hasty.  This  has  been  a  stereotyped 
cry,  when  the  "Lord's  house  is  to  be  built,"  since  the  days 
of  Haggai.  Others,  who  preferred  to  have  it  the  devil's 
play-house,  clamored  against  the  undertaking.  Others 
still,  who  were  every  way  well  disposed  toward  the  enter- 
prise, feared  it  could  not  be  accomplished.  Altogether, 
therefore,  it  was  entered  upon  with  fearful  odds  against 
success.  A  few,  however,  were  confident  that  they  were 
well  able  to  "go  up  and  possess  it;"  and  so  they  were, 
bad  there  been  more  Calebs  and  Joshuas.  The  church 
was  finished  ;  but  for  lack  of  anticipated  co-operation,  a 
heavy  debt  hung  over  it  on  the  day  of  dedication.  Hopes 
were  entertained  of  clearing  it  of  embarrassment  on  that 
occasion.  But  a  few  days  before  the  appointed  time  for 
that  service  arrived,  a  sweeping  fire  destroyed  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  city;  just  missing  the  new  church,  however, 
3^et  laying  in  ashes  the  homes  of  many  of  its  friends,  thus 
greatly  increasing  the  difficulty  of  providing  for  the  pay- 
ment of  the  debt.  After  struggling  under  this  for  some 
time,  the  trustees  sought  the  advice  of  the  Conference. 
The  matter  was  thoroughly  canvassed,  and  some  severe  criti- 
cisms were  made,  evidently  intended  to  bear  on  Dr.  Car- 
hart.  Of  the  two  who  were  the  most  liberal  with  this  kind 
of  help,  one  had  never  distinguished  himself  in  any  church- 
building  enterprise ;  the  other  had  led  a  church  into  about 
as  great  an  embarrassment  for  an  edifice  that  proved  almost 
a  failure.  But  the  Conference  generally  felt  a  deep  sym- 
pathy with  the  brethren  who  so  heroically  battled  with  ad- 
verse circumstances.  The  result  of  the  canvass  was  an 
arrangement   to  apply    to   the  Churches    throughout  the 


270  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Conference   for  aid.     We  shall  see  hereafter  how  it  suc- 
ceeded. 

Another  Macedonian  cry  came  from  the  Garrett  Bib- 
lical Institute.  The  great  Chicago  fire  of  1871  and  the 
**hard  times"  had  so  reduced  for  the  time  its  resources, 
that,  after  paying  insurance,  taxes,  etc.,  it  had  not  "one 
dollar  of  income."  Yet  ''upwards  of  one  hundred  young 
men,"  says  the  appeal,  "are  now  applying  for  instruction. 
The  faculty  say:  'Paid  or  not  paid,  these  men  can  not  be 
turned  away.'" 

Small  as  were  the  salaries  of  some  of  the  preachers,  all 
had  received  something;  so  they  pledged  $538.92  to  aid  in 
running  this  "  School  of  the  Prophets." 

What  a  contrast  between  such  public  institutions  and 
individuals!  When  unavoidable  calamities  come  upon  the 
former,  sympathy  is  awakened  and  needed  aid  is  rendered. 
This  is  well.  When  similar  things  come  to  individuals, 
they  must  not  only  bear  them  alone,  but  often  be  subjected 
to  stinging  criticism. 

The  plan  of  the  work  was  slightly  changed.  The  Nor- 
wegian District,  being  divided,  thus  formed  tivo,  called 
Chicago  Norwegian  District,  in  charge  of  J.  H.  Johnson  ; 
and  Milwaukee  Norwegian  District,  of  which  O.  P.  Peterson 
was  presiding  elder.  A.  J.  Mead  and  George  Fellows 
having  completed  their  full  terras  on  Fond  du  Lac  and 
Waupaca  Districts,  respectively,  L.  N.  Wheeler  succeeded 
the  former,  and  J.  M.  Walker  the  latter. 

No  special  departure  from  usual  methods  of  work  is 
discernible  in  the  reports  of  this  year.  On  all  questions  of 
reform  and  benevolent  operations  the  Conference  main- 
tained its  former  erect  position.  An  extract  from  a  pre-' 
siding  elder's  report  of  his  district,  incorporated  in  the 
report  on  Temperance,  is  worthy  of  serious  thought.  It 
is  this: 

"  I  have  found  by  careful  calculation  that,  could  the 


ANNALS  OF  1S78.  271 

money  be  saved  for  the  Lord  that  is  spent  for  tobacco  by 
the  members  of  the  Church  on  my  district,  I  could  pay 
the  presiding  elder's  salary,  make  up  the  deficiencies  on 
the  preacher's  claims,  put  a  good  library  into  every  Sun- 
day-school in  the  district,  and  have  a  handsome  sum  to 
send  abroad  for  missions." 

If  this  be  an  accurate  estimate,  and  a  fair  specimen  of 
other  districts,  Heaven  pity  us! 

Death  had  been  doing  its  work  during  the  year.  Three 
preachers,  and  the  wives  of  four  others  of  our  Conference, 
had  fallen  by  his  power. 

Isaac  Wiltse,  whose  name  first  appears  in  our  Min- 
utes in  1859,  was  called  to  his  reward,  March  30th  of  this 
year,  in  the  forty-second  year  of  his  age,  and  in  the  nine- 
teenth of  his  itinerant  ministry.  He  died  at  Ripon,  being 
the  third  pastor  of  our  Church  there  that  had  been  taken 
from  it  in  like  manner.  From  the  first  his  ministry  was 
characterized  with  diligence,  prudence,  and  success.  He 
was  appointed  to  Ripon  in  1876,  one  year  after  the  Con- 
ference disposed  of  the  Craig  case,  while  the  elements  were 
yet  in  a  very  unsettled  state.  But  by  skillful  management 
for  a  year  and  a  half  they  were  rapidly  growing  harmoni- 
ous. Though  he  was  facing  death  in  triumph,  the  inter- 
ests of  his  people  burdened  his  soul ;  and  a  little  before  his 
departure  he  charged  his  presiding  elder  thus:  ''Take 
care  of  my  work."  Few  more  valuable  men  have  ever 
passed  from  our  ranks. 

William  Shroff  was  transferred  to  our  Conference 
from  Ohio  in  1850,  and  for  ten  years  did  effective  service, 
when  he  was  compelled  by  personal  and  family  illness  to 
retire  from  the  field.  He  remained  in  a  superannuate 
relation  until  his  death  May  5,  1877,  his  wife,  after  suflfer- 
ing  much,  having  gone  a  few  years  before.  As  he  resided 
beyond   our   Conference  bounds,  we    knew   little   of  him 


272  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

during  the  years  of  superannuation.     But  all  reports  were 
favorable. 

Elijah  P.  Beecher  was  received  on  trial  in  the 
Oneida  Conference,  New  York,  in  1840,  and  in  1855  was 
transferred  to  ours.  With  the  exception  of  about  a  year 
and  a  half  he  did  effective  work  till  1869,  when  he  was 
placed  on  the  list  of  superannuates,  where  he  remained  till 
his  death  in  Beaver  Dam,  November  3,  1877.  He  was  a 
true  man,  an  earnest  worker,  a  fair  preacher,  and  highly 
respected. 

Mary  E.  Olin,  wife  of  Rev.  S.  A.  Olin,  died  of 
malignant  diphtheria  in  April,  1878,  in  Hortonville,  where 
her  husband  was  in  pastoral  work.  In  1871  her  husband 
commenced  his  work  in  our  Conference.  She  had  many 
fears  that  she  should  not  be  competent  to  the  position  of  a 
minister's  wife.  But  all  accounts  say  she  had  already 
become  a  very  useful  worker  in  that  relation,  and  was  con- 
stantly improving.  She  died  well.  A  little  before  the  last 
summons  came  she  said  :  "I  have  been  wonderfully  filled 
with  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  as  a  preparation  for  this 
hour,  to  enable  me  to  get  a  complete  victory.  I  have 
been  down  to  the  brink  of  the  river ;  the  waters  were  not 
dark,  for  Jesus  was  with  me  there." 

Lydia  F.  Fairbanks,  wife  of  Rev.  C.  J.  Fairbanks, 
closed  her  earthly  life  August  8,  1878,  in  the  fifty-seventh 
year  of  her  age.  For  many  years  her  health  was  frail,  but 
she  would  not  consent  to  have  her  husband  locate  on  ac- 
count of  it.     "  Near  the  closing  scene,  as  a  friend  sang, 

'  I  know  I  am  nearing  the  holy  ranks 
Of  friends  and  kindred  dear,' 

she  exclaimed,    'Glory!    Glory!    Glory!    How  bright  it 
looks  on  the  other  shore !' " 

•    Frances  M.  Peep  passed  to  her  inheritance,  March  30, 
1878,  her  husband,  Rev.  Thomas  Peep,  being  in  charge  of 


ANNALS  OF  1S79.  273 

Pleasant  Prairie  Circuit.  She  rendered  valuable  assist- 
ance, and  was  universally  esteemed.  Among  her  last 
words  were,  "  All  the  bells  of  heaven  are  ringing  a  welcome 
to  me." 

ChaPwLOTTE  Roe  was  bora  in  Eagland,  March  31, 
1824,  became  the  wife  of  J.  P.  Roe,  January  5,  1848,  and 
died  May  23, 1878.  Both  she  and  her  husband  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  Eagland.  In  1857  they  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  latter  afterwards 
became  a  member  of  Wisconsin  Conference.  She  was  a 
most  estimable  lady  and  a  devout  Christian. 

Our  ministry  this  year  was  re-enforced  by  six  transfers 
and  readraissions,  and  nine  receptions  on  trial.  But  as 
three  had  died,  two  located,  and  three  were  transferred  to 
other  Conferences,  the  increase  was  but  seven. 

The  reports  show  a  general  advance  in  numbers,  benevo- 
lences, church  edifices,  parsonages,  and  pastoral  charges. 

W.  R.  Jones,  who  left  us  by  transfer,  had  been  a  success- 
ful minister  among  us  since  1860,  and  is  still  doing  good 
work  in  Nebraska. 

1879. 

For  the  fourth  time  in  the  history  of  Wisconsin  Con- 
ference our  session  this  year  was  held  in  Milwaukee.  But 
the  reader  may  remember  that  in  1844  the  Rock  River 
Conference  met  there,  while  Methodism  in  Wisconsin  was 
under  its  care. 

The  session  now  in  consideration  commenced  in  Graad 
Avenue  Church,  October  1st,  Bishop  E.  G.  Andrews  pre- 
siding. 

The  society  worshiping  here  is  the  oldest  in  the  city. 
It  was  formed  in  the  summer  of  1836.  The  little  baud — 
the  only  Protestant  organization  in  the  place — held  serv- 
ices wherever  it  was  most  convenient,  until  after  the  ar- 
rival of  L.  S.  Kellogg,  in  December  next  following.     He 

23 


274  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

soon  built  a  carpenter-shop  for  himself,  which  also  was 
used  as  a  place  of  worship  for  the  society  for  a  year  or 
more.  Ou  the  2Sth  of  May,  1841,  their  first  church  edi- 
fice, already  described,  was  dedicated.  They  occupied  this 
until  1848,  when  they  moved  into  a  much  more  capacious 
one,  on  the  corner  of  West  Water  and  Spring  (now  Grand 
Avenue)  Streets.  Ou  the  14th  of  January,  1854,  this  was 
consumed  by  fire.  For  about  nine  months  the  society  wor- 
shiped in  Young's  Hall,  on  Wisconsin  Street.  In  October, 
1854,  they  rented,  and  soon  after  purchased,  the  Free 
Congregational  church,  on  the  corner  of  Spring  and  Second 
Streets,  which  w^as  also  burned,  July  4,  1861.  Thus  the 
society  was  subjected  to  other  removals.  After  their  de- 
molished structure  was  rebuilt,  they  occupied  it  until,  for 
lack  of  needed  room,  they  provided  for  themselves  their 
present  well-arranged  temple,  which  they  began  to  occupy 
October  8,  1871.  Notwithstanding  they  were  pinched  with 
poverty,  pursued  by  fire,  and  driven  from  place  to  place, 
they  never  lost  heart,  nor  ceased  to  be  an  active,  aggressive 
Church,  loyal  to  every  part  of  Methodism,  though  not  par- 
tial to  the  Mnd  of  itinerancy  they  had  been  compelled  to 
practice. 

Bishop  Andrews  appeared  among  us  for  the  first  time. 
He  was  one  of  the  eight  elected  to  the  episcopacy  in 
1872,  and  the  seventh  one  of  that  number  that  visited  us 
officially.  He  made  a  very  fine  impression,  fully  sustain- 
ing the  high  reputation  he  had  before  earned.  At  the 
time  of  his  election  he  was  pastor  of  the  Seventh  Avenue 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Brooklyn,  New  York,  though 
he  had  spent  many  years  in  the  educational  field  before 
entering  upon  pastoral  work. 

H.  Colmau  had  been  for  six  successive  years  principal 
secretary,  and,  for  the  last  four,  A.  A.  Hoskins  and  S. 
Halsey  had  been  his  assistants;  Stephen  Smith,  G.  W. 
Wells,  and  P.  W.  Peterson  had  also  been  statistical  secre- 


ANNALS  OF  1879.  275 

taries  for  four  years.  They  were  all  re-elected,  at  this 
session,  to  the  same  positions. 

Little  of  the  usual  routine  business  of  the  Conference 
demands  special  notice. 

J.  W.  McCormic  was  transferred  to  us  from  Indiana 
Conference,  and  R.  W.  Bosworth  was  returned  by  transfer 
from  Colorado,  whence  he  had  gone  a  few  years  before. 

Ten  were  received  on  trial. 

J.  Jones  located ;  G.  M.  Steele,  M.  Evans,  W.  H. 
Thompson,  and  A.  Hollington  were  transferred  to  other 
Conferences. 

S.  L.  Leonard  and  H.  C.  Tilton  were  removed  by 
death.  The  last-named  began  his  itinerant  ministry  in 
1841,  under  the  care  of  the  Maine  Conference,  and  served 
in  that  and  the  East  Maine  Conference  sixteen  years.  In 
1857  h^  located,  not  to  leave  the  work,  but  to  enter  some 
Conference  in  the  West.  He  was  readmitted  into  our 
Conference  a  few  months  after,  of  which  he  continued  a 
prominent  and  an  honored  member  until  he  was  called  to 
his  inheritance  on  high,  March  26, 1879.  He  served  some 
of  our  best  stations,  was  presiding  elder  on  Janesville 
and  Racine  Districts.  About  the  middle  of  his  term  on 
the  former  he  accepted  a  chaplaincy  in  the  Thirteenth 
Regiment  of  Wisconsin  Volunteers,  but  was  compelled,  by 
injured  health,  to  resign  before  the  Rebellion  was  crushed. 
He  also  served  one  term  in  the  Wisconsin  Legislative  As- 
sembly, where  his  influence  was  felt  in  opposing  some  po- 
litical chicanery.  For  several  months  toward  the  close  of 
life,  he  had  unusual  manifestations  of  the  divine  presence, 
and  of  the  power  of  Christ  to  save  to  the  uttermost.  Writ- 
ing to  the  last  Conference  before  his  death,  he  said  : 

"  Dear  Bkethrex — This  has  been  a  hard-fought  bat- 
tle ;  but  it  is  not  without  its  blessed  results.  It  has  been 
the  best  year  of  my  life,  spiritually.  The  majesty  and 
power  of  Christ  Jesus  have  been  gloriously  revealed  to  me. 


276  WISCONSiy  COXFEREyCE. 

His  tender  love  aud  faithfulness  have  been  inexpre-mble 
siceetness  to  me.  The  blood  of  Christ  saves  me  from  the 
love,  the  pollution,  the  power,  and  practice  of  sin.  The 
fullness  of  joy  and  peace  can  fill  the  soul  of  one,  though 
burdened  with  weakness,  ignorance,  and  disease.  Death 
is  conquered  ;  the  grave  is  conquered :  devils  aud  hell  are 
conquered.     Amen  I  amen  I" 

It  is  not  strange,  after  such  experiences,  that  he  whis- 
pered, as  life  was  ebbing  out:  "I  am  ready,  through  the 
blood  of  the  Lamb.'' 

S.  L.  Leonatj)  entered  our  ranks  in  1850.  He  was 
faithful  to  his  work,  very  studious,  and  for  a  time  was 
considered  a  very  promising  youug  minister;  but  from 
feebleness  of  health,  which  grew  upon  him  and  assumed  a 
nervous  form,  or  from  other  causes,  he  did  not  meet  the 
expectation  of  his  friends.  It  is  well  said  in  his  o^jituary 
that  he  "was  a  man  of  strong  convictions,  and  never 
swerved  from  any  course  which  he  believed  to  be  right." 
For  many  years  he  was  on  the  superannuate  list.  He 
bore  with  great  patience  the  extreme  suffering  that  at- 
tended the  closing  weeks  of  his  life,  and  "  his  soul  tri- 
umphed gloriously  in  Christ,  his  all-sufficient  Savior." 

As  last  year,  so  this,  several  of  the  preacher?  were  be- 
reft of  their  wives.     These  may  here  be  noted. 

Mrs.  Sarah  K.  Sampson  died  in  Appleton,  September 
23,  1879,  just  a  few  days  before  the  Conference  began. 
She  was  the  third  wife  of  our  much  esteemed  and  venerated 
brother,  W.  H.  Sampson.  Though  a  member  of  the  Prot- 
estant Episcopal  Church,  she  seems  to  have  entered  as 
heartily  into  work  with  her  husband  as  could  be  ex- 
pected. She  is  represented  as  a  noble  woman  and  sincere 
Christian. 

Mrs.  Harriet  Ann  Anderson,  wife  of  Kev.  W.  M. 
Anderson,  died  September  20th — three  days  before  Mrs. 
Samps«Dn — in    Kansas.     She    was   an    earnest     worker   in 


ANNALS  OF  1S79.  211 

various  lines  of  Christian  activity,  and  died  exclaiming, 
"Jesus  is  precious  now!" 

Catherine  E.  Cook,  wife  of  C.  D.  Cook,  for  some 
time  an  active  member  of  our  Conference,  now  superannu- 
ated, died  at  Eagle  Lake  Station,  Minnesota,  May  16, 
'1879.  She  is  represented  as  an  earnest  Christian  woman. 
"She  died  as  she  lived  so  many  years,  in  the  Lord." 

We  can  not  close  the  annals  of  this  year  without  hon- 
orable mention  of  Dr.  Geo.  M.  Steele.  In  June,  1865, 
he  was  elected  to  the  presidency  of  Lawrence  University, 
and  entered  upon  its  duties  at  the  beginning  of  the  next 
academic  year,  in  the  September  following.  He  filled 
the  position  for  fourteen  years  with  marked  success,  and 
won  the  respect  of  scholars  and  educators  throughout  the 
Scate.  We  parted  with  him  reluctantly,  but  with  the 
best  wishes  for  his  success  as  principal  of  Wilbraham  Acad- 
emy, Massachusetts,  the  oldest  institution  of  learning  in 
American  Methodism.  He  is  still  at  that  post  of  honor. 
We  miss  his  manly  form,  benignant  words,  and  healthful 
influence. 

The  other  brethren  who  left  us  by  transfer,  had  done 
good  service  for  several  years. 

The  reports  show  an  increase  of  members  in  full  con- 
nection among  the  laity,  but  a  decrease  of  probationers. 
A  decided  advance  was  made  in  the  benevolences  and  in 
Church  edifices. 

The  list  of  appointments  shows  no  change  in  the  in- 
cumbents of  the  districts;  but  there  was  one  made  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  session,  which  will  be  noticed  in  an- 
other place. 

This  year  closes  the  connection  of  the  Norwegian 
work  with  our  Conference.  The  General  Conference  that 
met  in  the  May  following  placed  it  in  a  Conference  by 
itself.  It  will  receive  further  notice  in  Part  IV  of  this 
volume. 


278  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

L.  N.  Wheeler,  W.  P.  Stowe,  O.  J.  Cowles,  and 
J.  H.  Johnson  were  elected  delegates  to  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1880 ;  and  A.  J.  Mead  and  Henry  Colman  re- 
serves. The  lay  delegates  were  Robert  McMillen  and 
Z.  P.  Burdick,  with  E.  L.  Grant  and  R.  P.  Elmore 
as  reserves. 


ANNALS  OF  18S0.  279 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
I 880-1. 

APPLETON  was  this  year  for  the  third  time  the  seat 
of  Wisconsin  Conference. 

Bishop  William  L.  Harris  opened  the  session  on  the 
13th  of  October,  and  presided  over  our  deliberations.  He 
was  one  of  the  eight  so  often  referred  to  in  the  annals  of 
recent  years,  and  the  last  with  whose  presidency  we  were 
favored.  He  was  in  various  ways  a  remarkable  man.  For 
several  years  he  had  been  a  professor  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan 
University.  He  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  the  North 
Ohio  Conference,  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  was 
chosen  as  one  of  their  representatives  to  the  General  Con- 
ference held  in  Indianapolis  in  May,  1856.  By  a  large 
majority  he  was  elected  secretary  of  that  body.  This 
brought  him  into  prominence  before  the  Church  at  large — 
especially  so,  as  he  proved  peculiarly  adapted  to  that  im- 
portant position.  He  was  re-elected  at  each  General  Con- 
ference till  that  of  1872  inclusive,  when  he  was  elevated 
to  the  episcopacy.  For  twelve  years  also  previous  to  the 
last  date  he  was  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  Missionary 
Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  had  great 
physical  endurance,  and  was  "in  labors  abundant"  in 
every  position  he  occupied.  In  1868  he  said  to  the  writer 
and  others:  "  If  I  know  what  you  mean  by  tired,  I  never 
had  the  sensation." 

S.  Halsey,  who  had  been  assistant  secretary  for  six  suc- 
cessive years,  was  this  year  elected  principal;  and  J.  W. 


280  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

McCormack  and  J.  R.  Creighton,  assistants.     The  statistical 
secretaries  for  the  last  four  years  were  re-elected. 

In  the  annals  of  1872  allusion  is  made  to  a  new  church 
in  process  of  erection  in  this  city,  to  take  the  place  of  one 
then  recently  consumed  by  fire.  In  this  finished  edifice  the 
Conference  held  its  present  session.  It  is  a  massive  brick 
structure,  of  good  architectural  proportions.  The  audi- 
torium is  richly  frescoed,  furnished  with  a  fine  organ,  and 
will  seat  about  seven  hundred  people.  In  the  basement  are 
five  rooms,  capable  of  being  thrown  into  one  by  sliding 
doors,  and  is  thus  well  fitted  for  effective  Church-work.  It 
is  valued  at  $37,000.  A  parsonage  near  is  valued  at 
$4,000. 

This  was  probably  the  most  unpleasant  session  in  our 
history.  Undesirable  as  it  is  to  review  the  circumstances 
that  made  it  so,  they  can  not  be  ignored  by  a  faithful  his- 
torian— so  public  were  they  and  so  far-reaching  in  their 
influence.  Several  months  before,  Rev.  George  C.  Had- 
dock wrote  an  "  Open  Letter,"  which  appeared  in  a  secular 
journal,  charging  Rev.  Dr.  J.  W.  Carhart  with  very  grave 
offenses,  and  declaring  his  readiness  to  sustain  them  with 
proof.  Dr.  Carhart  promptly  signified  his  readiness  to 
meet  them,  and  at  liis  request  a  "Committee  of  Inquiry" 
was  summoned,  according  to  the  law  of  the  Church  in  such 
cases.  After  a  rigid  investigation  for  several  days,  the  com- 
mittee failed  to  find  cause  for  a  trial.  Formal  charges  were 
prepared  against  him  at  this  Conference  by  Mr.  Haddock, 
and  the  case  went  to  a  committee  oi  fifteen  for  trial,  proper. 
This  committee  rendered  a  verdict  of  guilty,  and  J.  W.  Car- 
hart was  declared  "  expelled  from  the  ministry  and  mem- 
bership of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church."  He  appealed 
to  a  '*  Judicial  Conference,"  as  also  provided  by  our  ecclesi- 
astical law  in  such  cases.  This  body  reversed  the  decision 
of  the  lower  court,  and  restored  him  to  membership  in  the 
Church  and  in  the  ministry. 


ANXALS  OF  IS 80.  281 

A  bill  of  charges  was  also  presented  to  the  Conference 
against  Rev.  G.  C.  Haddock,  by  Rev.  R.  J.  Judd,  based 
mainly  on  the  very  improper  way  in  which  he  had  assailed 
Dr.  Carhart.  Before  the  committee  were  ready  to  call  him 
to  answer  to  these  charges,  he  wrote  a  confession  to  the  Con- 
ference, in  which,  after  affirming  his  conviction  of  the  truth 
of  the  allegations  of  the  "  Open  Letter"  at  the  time  it  was 
written,  he  said  :  "In  view  of  all  facts  and  circumstances, 
I  now  say  that  I  regret  the  publication  of  the  '  Open  Letter ' 
as  an  unwise  and  imprudent  act,  and  I  cast  myself  upon  the 
unfailing  love  of  my  dear  brethren,  whom  I  have  ever  found, 
in  a  Conference  acquaintance  of  twenty  years,  to  be  unsur- 
passed in  charitable  kindness  and  tender  consideration." 

These  matter-s  created  a  very  uupleasant  atmosphere ; 
for  not  all  believed  that  Dr.  Carhart  had  been  justly 
treated. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  we  took  leave  of  the 
venerable  Dr.  Steele  at  our  last  Conference.  Dr.  E.  D. 
Huntley,  of  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference,  was  elected 
to  succeed  him  in  the  presidency  of  our  cherished  "Law- 
rence." He  was  duly  installed  at  the  Commencement,  in 
June,  1879.  During  the  year  just  closed  he  had  devoted 
much  of  his  time  to  soliciting  financial  aid  for  the  college. 
According  to  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Education, 
he  had  thus  secured  *'  about  812,000  for  current  ex- 
penses;"  and  the  institution  "once  more  was  proclaimed 
out  of  debt."  The  outlook  seemed  in  all  respects  to  be 
encouraging.  So  also  it  was  with  Garrett  Biblical  Insti- 
tute. It  was  fast  emerging  from  its  heavy  "  financial  em- 
barrassment," caused  by  the  great  fire  of  1871. 

The  Conference  expressed  its  hearty  approval  of  an 
act  of  the  late  General  Conference  providing  for  a  Com- 
mittee on  Temperance  in  every  pastoral  charge,  to  be  ap- 
pointed at  the  last  Quarterly  Conference  of  each  year. 
Nor  less  so,  of  the  insertion  of  a  new  question  to  be  pro- 


282  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

pouDded  by  the  bishops  to  candidates  for  reception  into 
full  Conference  membership;  viz.,  "  Will  you  wholly  ab- 
stain from  the  use  of  tobacco?" 

We  had  been  battling  on  these  lines  for  years.  On  the 
latter  we  were  probably  the  pioneer  Conference  of  the  en- 
tire Methodist  family.  Nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century 
before  (1857)  we  had  solemnly  pledged  ourselves  not  to 
vote  to  admit  any  one  to  membership  in  our  Conference, 
or  to  receive  ordination,  who  habitually  used  tobacco,  with- 
out a  positive  promise  before  the  Conference  of  total  ab- 
stinence therefrom  in  the  future.  It  was  therefore  very 
gratifying  to  see  the  highest  ecclesiastical  body  in  our 
Church  move  in  this  direction. 

In  the  annals  of  last  year  allusion  was  made  to  a 
change  of  one  of  the  presiding  elders,  w'ith  a  promise  of 
explanation  in  the  proper  place. 

The  case  was  this.  W.  G.  Miller  was  appointed  pre- 
siding elder  of  Milwaukee  District.  He  was  in  process  of 
moving  his  family  to  Nebraska  at  the  time  the  Conference 
was  in  session.  He  was  expected  to  remain  with  us 
through  the  year  ;  but  being  needed  in  that  (Nebraska) 
Conference,  which  was  held  about  the  same  time  as  ours, 
he  consented  to  a  transfer;  and  Henry  Colman  was  re- 
moved from  Bay  View  to  fill  the  vacancy  thus  created. 

W.  P.  Stowe,  presiding  elder  on  Janesville  District, 
had  been  elected  at  the  General  Conference  in  May  next 
preceding  the  present  Conference,  agent  of  the  Western 
Methodist  Book  Concern  ;  and  entering  at  once  upon  the 
duties  of  his  office,  A.  J.  Mead  was  removed  from  the 
Algoma  Street  Church  to  succeed  him.  Hence,  both  these 
brethren  who  had  had  been  appointed  to  pastorates,  ap- 
peared at  the  beginning  of  the  Conference  of  1880  as  pre- 
siding elders. 

Though  Dr.  Miller  was  transferred  soon  after  our  Con- 
ference of  1879,  the  fact  is  not  indicated  in  our  Minutes 


ANNALS  OF  1880.  283 

till  1880.  So  we  must  give  him  a  parting  word  at  this 
point.  Several  years  ago  he  published  a  book  entitled, 
"  Thirty  Years  in  the  Itinerancy,"  which  was  really  an  au- 
tobiography up  to  that  time.  It  contains  much  interest- 
ing matter  relating  to  our  work  in  Wisconsin  in  early  times, 
and  also  to  a  considerable  number  of  preachers  besides 
himself.  It  has  been  quite  helpful  to  the  writer,  at  some 
points,  in  preparing  this  work.  He  entered  our  ranks  in 
1845,  and  continued  in  the  active  work,  with  a  brief  in- 
terval of  partially  broken  health,  until  1879,  filling  some  of 
our  best  appointments,  performing  district- work  for  many 
years,  representing  us  in  General  Conferences  and  in  the 
Missionary  Board — in  all  of  w^hich  relations  he  acquitted  him- 
self luell.  He  is  still  making  a  good  record  in  his  newer 
field. 

E.  L.  Eaton,  G.  A.  Smith,  K.  Couley,  J.  P.  Roe,  C. 
N.  Stowers,  T.  F.  Allen,  C.  E.  Pattee,  and  E.  E.  McBride 
also  left  us  this  year  by  transfer  to  other  Conferences ;  all 
of  whom  had  rendered  us   more  or  less  valuable  service. 

J.  E.  Creighton  and  J.  E.  Gilbert  were  received  by 
transfer. 

A.  A.  Hoskins  withdrew  from  the  Conference  and 
Church. 

J.  T.  Chenoweth  located. 

Six  were  received  on  trial ;  so  our  ministerial  force  re- 
mained numerically  about  as  last  year. 

There  was  an  entire  change  in  the  district  incumbents 
as  appointed  last  year.  H.  Colman  appears  in  charge  of 
Milwaukee  District;  A.  J.  Mead,  of  Janesville  District; 
J.  M.  Walker,  of  Appleton  District ;  and  A.  P.  Mead,  of 
AYaupaca  District.  The  first  named  two,  however,  were 
in  charge  of  the  same  districts  during  a  part  of  the  pre- 
vious year,  as  already  stated. 

The  two  Norwegian  districts  were  transferred  to  a  newly 


284  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

formed   Norwegian  Conference,  of  wliich  an  account  will 
be  given  in  another  place. 

1881. 

On  the  21st  day  of  October,  1881,  our  Conference  as- 
sembled in  Whitewater.  Twice  before  we  had  been  wel- 
comed by  the  people  of  that  place. 

Since  our  first  session  there  in  1859  the  town  had  taken 
on  much  larger  proportions. 

Our  Church  had  also  grown  in  numbers,  wealth,  and 
social  position.  One  of  the  State  Normal  Schools  being 
located  there,  it  is  very  important  to  keep  the  pulpit  aglow 
with  celestial  light,  and  the  pew  with  the  old  Jerusalem 
fire.  So  it  is  everywhere,  but  especially  in  our  centers  of 
high-school  instruction. 

Bishop  C.  D.  Foss  presided  at  this  session.  He  was 
elected  to  the  episcopacy  in  1880,  having  been  in  the  minis- 
try twenty-three  years,  fourteen  of  which  were  spent  in  the 
pastoral  work,  and  nine  in  the  educational.  At  the  time 
of  his  election  he  had  been  president  of  the  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity at  Middletown,  Connecticut,  for  five  years. 

S.  Halsey  was  again  elected  secretary  and  J.  R.  Creigh- 
ton  and  A.  J.  Benjamin,  assistants. 

The  statistical  secretaries  of  last  year  were  re-elected. 

On  the  second  day  of  July  next  preceding,  Charles  J. 
Guiteau  attempted  the  assassination  of  James  A.  Garfield, 
President  of  the  United  States.  The  President  lingered  till 
September  19th — two  days  before  our  session  began — then 
yielded  to  the  increasing  power  of  his  fatal  wound. 

Immediately  after  the  organization  of  the  Conference 
arrangements  were  made  for  suitable  memorial  services  in 
view  of  this  sad  event,  which  in  due  time  were  held — 
Bishop  Foss  and  Rev.  S.  N.  Griffith  each  giving  a  very 
fine  address. 

The  financial  condition  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 


ANNALS  OF  1881.  285 

Church  at  Oshkosh  again  came  to  view.  The  pastor,  D.  J. 
Holmes,  made  a  report  that  showed  hopeful  progress  iu 
canceling  its  embarrassing  debt.  At  this  Conference  relief 
was  sought  by  our  Church  at  Columbus.  It  seemed  that 
our  people  there  had  been  led  into  embarrassment  in  build- 
ing their  house  of  worship,  by  the  under  estimates  of  their 
architect — a  thing  so  often  done  that  Churches  ought  to 
be  more  cautious. 

The  Conference  provided  for  the  relief  sought,  by  an 
appeal  to  the  Church  Extension  Society  and  by  author- 
izing the  pastor  at  Columbus  to  solicit  aid  from  other 
Churches  in  the  Conference  territory. 

J.  W.  McCormic,  who  came  to  us  two  years  before 
from  Indiana,  was  reported  to  have  preached  doctrines 
contrary  to  our  recognized  standards.  He  frankly  admit- 
ted it  in  a  written  statement,  and  by  request  of  the  Con- 
ference he  withdrew  from  the  ministry  and  membership  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Another  case  of  withdrawal  occurred  of  a  very  different 
character.  Dr.  Carhart,  who  was  expelled  at  the  last 
Annual  Conference,  had  been  restored  to  membership  by  a 
Judicial  Conference,  as  already  stated.  Of  course,  he 
"  stood  before  the  law"  with  the  same  rights  as  any  of  us 
possessed.  But  it  was  declared  by  several  of  the  presiding 
elders  that  they  could  not  find  a  place  for  him,  and  on 
this  account  a  motion  was  made,  and  vehemently  urged, 
that  he  be  placed  on  the  list  of  supernumeraries.  He  pro- 
tested, saying  that  he  was  able  to  do  full  work,  and  that 
he  was  ready  to  take  the  poorest  charge  in  the  Conference. 
Strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  motion  prevailed — with  but 
one  majority,  how^ever.  He  was  so  grieved  with  this  action 
that  he  withdrew.  All  this  proceeding  was  doubtless  erro- 
neous. He  was  entitled  by  all  law  and  usage  to  an 
appointment. 


286  WISCONSTN  CONFERENCE. 

For  several  years  the  general  plan  of  the  work  has 
been  essentially  the  same. 

Only  one  change  in  the  district  incumbents  .  occurred 
this  year.  G.  H.  Moulton  was  appointed  to  the  charge  of 
Fond  du  Lac  District  in  place  of  L.  N.  Wheeler,  who  had 
been  sent  to  establish  a  mission  in  Western  China. 

For  about  eight  years — from  1865  to  1872  inclusive — 
he  was  a  missionary  in  Eastern  China,  and  was  now 
selected  as  a  suitable  person  to  undertake  this  new  enter- 
prise. 

Two  of  our  esteemed  brethren  were  this  year  removed 
by  death — P.  B.  Pease  and  S.  V.  R.  Shepherd.  Mr. 
Pease  entered  upon  a  course  of  study  at  Oberlin,  Ohio, 
but  was  compelled  to  desist  on  account  of  a  partial  failure 
in  health.  He  recuperated,  and  in  1852  was  received  on 
trial  in  our  Conference.  From  the  first  he  was  considered 
a  man  of  promise.  He  continued  to  rise,  filled  several  of 
our  best  appointments  successfully,  served  two  full  terms 
as  presiding  elder,  and  was  once  (in  1872)  a  delegate  to 
the  General  Conference. 

In  1880  he  was  appointed  to  Waukesha.  He  w^nt  to 
his  new  field,  2:>reached  one  Sabbath,  returned  to  his  home 
in  Fort  Atkinson  to  prepare  for  moving,  was  taken  ill,  and 
on  the  10th  of  November  he  passed  from  earth,  saying  a 
little  before  to  his  wife:  '*  I  think  I  shall  get  well;  but 
whether  I  do  or  not,  it  will  be  all  right."  He  was  in  the 
sixty-second  year  of  his  age  at  death.  Mr.  Shepherd  died 
at  his  home  at  Iron  Ridge,  June  13,  1881,  at  the  age  of 
about  seventy  years. 

He  entered  our  ranks  in  1855,  did  effective  work  for 
about  twelve  years,  then  retired  to  a  superannuate  relation, 
in  which  he  continued  until  called  hence. 

While  in  the  active  ministry  he  was  earnest,  faithful, 
and  successful.  "  God  owned  his  labors  in  the  salvation  of 
sinners.     His  end  was  triumphant  peace." 


ANNALS  OF  1881.  287 

Mrs.  Ellen  B.  Robinson,  wife  of  Rev.  Elijah  Robin- 
son, was  also  this  year  numbered  with  the  dead.  Her  heart 
was  in  the  work  of  an  itinerant  minister's  wife,  but  the  fail- 
ing health  of  her  husband  greatly  interrupted  her  hopes. 
About  1857  they  came  to  this  State  from  Vermont  in  quest 
of  better  health  for  him,  but  with  little  success.  Calmly 
resigning  all  to  God,  she  passed  from  labor  to  rest  on  the 
24th  of  May,  1881. 

Besides  those  who  died  and  withdrew,  four  left  our  work 
by  location  and  three  by  transfer — eleven  in  all.  To  com- 
pensate for  this  loss,  sixteen  were  received  on  trial  and  by 
transfer  from  other  Conferences.  But  as  four  were  assigned 
to  foreign  mission-fields,  the  force  for  home-work  was  but 
little  changed. 

The  reports  of  numbers,  benevolences,  etc.,  show  but 
little  variation  from  last  year. 


288  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
1882-3. 

OUR  Conference  assembled  in  1882,  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  day  of  September,  in  Fond  du  Lac.  This  was 
our  fourth  session  there — the  first  being  thirty  years  before. 

Bishop  Wiley  presided.  This  was  his  second  official 
visit  to  us.  He  came  under  the  weight  of  a  great  sorrow. 
His  son — a  noble,  promising  youth — was  burned  to  death, 
a  few  days  before,  by  the  accidental  ignition  of  a  cask  of 
kerosene  he  was  assisting  to  move.  In  his  introductory 
words  at  the  opening  of  the  Conference  he  briefly  alluded 
to  it,  and  then  requested  us  to  make  no  reference  to  it  in 
the  Conference-room  during  the  session. 

The  re-election  of  all  the  secretaries  of  the  preceding 
year  completed  the  organization  of  the  body  for  business. 

Nothing  of  special  interest  appears  in  the  records  of 
this  year.  The  districts  and  their  incumbents  are  the  same 
as  last  year. 

Aggressive  action  is  evident  on  all  lines  of  Christian 
work,  both  in  the  ministry  and  in  the  laity.  On  all  the 
great  questions  of  reform  the  Conference  still  occupied  a 
firm  position. 

The  changes  in  our  ministerial  force  were  not  remark- 
able. We  received  three  by  transfer  and  seven  on  trial. 
We  lost  two  by  death,  four  by  transfer,  one  by  withdrawal, 
one  by  location,  and  two  by  discontinuance  from  probation. 
Those  discontinued  showed  no  adaptation  to  our  work. 

J.  S.  Bolton  had  been  with  us  for  twenty-seven  years, 
and  worked  faithfully  in  various  places,  frequently  on  the 


ANNALS  OF  1SS2.  289 

frontier.  He  was  deemed  loyal  and  every  way  reliable ; 
bat  he  became  impressed  with  the  idea  that  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  not  up  to  the  Bible  standard  of 
holiness.  This  idea  grew  upon  him,  and  during  the  pre- 
ceding year  he  withdrew  and  joined  the  Free  Methodist 
Church,  of  which  he  is  still  a  minister. 

It  is  evidently  the  duty  of  any  minister  who  finds  him- 
self really  out  of  harmony  with  his  denomination  to  seek 
a  more  congenial  home.  But  it  is  not  easy  to  see  where 
any  one  can  find  a  place  that  affords  more  freedom  for 
real  Christian  experience  and  holy  living  than  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Eugene  Yager,  a  promising  young  man — three  years 
with  us — was  transfered  to  Detroit  Conference;  and  Geo. 
C.  Haddock,  to  Upper  Iowa  Conference.  Mr.  Haddock 
had  been  connected  with  our  Conference  twenty-two  years. 
He  early  took  rank  as  a  preacher  of  unusual  ability.  He 
was  a  very  positive  character,  and  naturally  given  to  con- 
troversy. These  traits  were  probably  fostered  by  his  former 
political  associations,  having  been  engaged  in  secular  news- 
paper work.  The  reader  will  remember  him  as  the  victim 
of  the  liquor-power  in  Sioux  City,  Iowa.  The  extensive 
and  intense  interest  felt  in  this  will  justify  a  statement 
of  the  essential  facts.     They  are  in  brief  as  follows : 

1.  Mr.  Haddock  was  exercising  the  right  of  a  citizen 
of  Iowa  in  trying  to  secure  the  enforcement  of  the  pro- 
hibitory liquor  law  of  that  State  in  Sioux  City. 

2.  The  enraged  liquor-dealers  there  formed  a  conspiracy 
to  "do  up  Haddock,"  in  which  one  Arensdorf  was  con- 
spicuous. 

3.  On  the  night  of  August  2,  1886,  he  was  shot  and 
instantly  killed  by  one  of  the  conspirators. 

4.  Arensdorf  was  arrested,  and  put  on  trial  for  the 
murder.  The  jury  disagreed— eleven  for  acquittal,  one 
for  conviction. 

24 


290  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

5.  The  juror  that  caused  the  division  positively  stated 
that  he  was  asked  to  "name  his  price." 

6.  During  the  trial  it  was  boldly  talked  on  the  street 
that  the  jury  would  divide,  just  as  it  did.  It  contained 
one  man  that  could  not  be  bought. 

7.  A  second  trial  was  ordered,  and  the  sheriff  this  time 
seems  to  have  been  more  successful  in  "  packing"  a  jury; 
for  after  an  immense  amount  of  testimony  against  Arens- 
dorf,  that  probably  convinced  ninety-nine  in  a  hundred  of 
his  guilt,  and  a  charge  from  the  judge  of  three-quarters  of 
an  hour,  bearing  heavily  against  him,  the  jury  retired,  and 
in  ten  minutes  returned  with  a  verdict,  "not  guilty." 
Probably  all  the  deliberation  they  ever  gave  the  case  was 
to  decide  what  their  "  price"  should  be. 

8.  Immediately  after  the  trial,  Arensdorf  and  the  jury 
went  to  a  photograph  gallery,  which  was  already  "  filled 
with  Arensdorf's  friends,"  and  had  their  pictures  taken  in 
a  group — the  assassin,  as  he  doubtless  was,  occupying  the 
center.     All  this  showed  pre-arrangement. 

Some  features  of  this  case  will  come  to  view  in  a  futur 
page. 

Jesse  Cole  had  been  in  our  Conference  since  18G8,  and 
W.  C.  Cook  since  1870.  The  former  went  to  the  North- 
west Iowa  Conference,  the  latter  to  Minnesota.  Both  seem 
to  be  making  good  records,  as  they  did  with  us. 

AsAHEL  Moore,  one  of  those  whose  demise  occurred 
during  the  year,  became  a  member  of  our  Conference  in 
1868.  He  had  been  a  member  of  the  Maine  and  East 
Maine  Conferences  since  1836,  till  a  few  months  before 
being  readmitted  to  ours;  and  for  ten  successive  sessions 
was  its  principal  secretary.  Of  course  his  best  work  was 
done  there.  He  was  highly  respected,  and  "died  w^ell" 
in  April,  1882,  in  the  seventy -second  year  of  his  age. 

John  N.  Nelson  was  received  last  year  by  transfer, 
as  a  preacher  on  trial  of  the  first  year,"  and  appointed  a 


ANNALS  OF  1882.  291 

^nissionary  at  Para,  Brazil,  under  Father  (now  Bishop) 
Taylor's  direction,  and  fell  a  victim  to  the  yellow  fever  there 
on  the  26th  of  September,  1881,  the  very  day  after  our 
Conference  adjourned.  He  was  reared  with  us,  was  a 
graduate  of  Lawrence  University,  the  son  of  noble  parents, 
once  residing  at  Menomonee  Falls,  but  now  within  the 
bounds  of  West  Wisconsin  Conference.  He  was  a  teacher 
in  "  Collegio  Americano,"  and  gave  promise  of  great 
usefulness. 

The  wives  of  two  others  passed  away  during  the  year. 
The  first  was  Mrs.  Sarah  McFarlane.  In  1848  she 
came  with  her  husband  (now  Rev.  W.  McFarlane)  from 
Scotland,  where  she  had  been  strictly  reared  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  In  1856  she  began  a  somewhat  new  ex- 
perience as  the  wife  of  a  Methodist  itinerant  minister,  her 
husband  being  that  year  received  on  trial  in  our  Confer- 
ence. She  was  much  attached  to  the  work,  and  seems  to 
have  done  her  part  well.  She  was  called  from  it  Decem- 
ber 5,  1881. 

The  other,  Mrs.  Cornelia  A.  S.  Richardson,  fell  a 
victim  to  typhoid  fever,  September  3,  1882.  She  was  a 
devoted  Christian,  a  great  help  to  her  husband,  Rev.  Jas. 
Richardson,  and  died  very  triumphantly.  A  little  be- 
fore her  departure  she  seemed  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the 
other  shore,  and  with  a  countenance  aglow  with  heav- 
enly radiance,  she  exclaimed:  "They  are  so  happy  over 
there." 

The  reports  of  this  year  show  a  general  "  advance  all 
along  the  lines,"  in  numbers,  church  edifices,  benevolences, 
etc.  The  total  increase  in  the  collections  for  the  latter 
w^as  85,557. 

At  this  Conference,  Rev.  C.  D.  Pillsbury,  a  veteran  in 
Immanuel's  army,  retired  to  superannuation.  In  1843  he 
began  his  itinerant  ministry  in  Maine,  where  he  labored 
successfully  for  fourteen  years.     He  then  located,  and  in 


292  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

a  few  weeks  was  readmitted  to  the  Wisconsin  Conference, 
in  which  he  performed  twenty-five  years  of  very  efficient 
ministerial  service,  twelve  of  which  were  in  district  work. 

1883. 

On  the  third  day  of  October,  this  year,  our  Conference 
convened  in  Summerfield  Church,  Milwaukee.  This  was 
its  third  session  in  that  church,  and  its  fifth  in  the  city. 
And  as  the  Kock  River  Conference  met  there  in  1844,  while 
Methodism  in  Wisconsin  was  under  its  supervision,  six 
Annual  Conference  sessions  have  been  held  there. 

Bishop  J.  F.  Hurst  appeared  as  president.  As  this 
was  his  first  visit,  few  of  our  preachers  had  ever  seen  him. 
Though  his  personal  presence  is  not  specially  imposing,  he 
is  an  intellectual  giant.  It  is  saying  much,  but  probably 
not  too  much,  to  say  that,  in  point  of  critical,  profound, 
and  varied  scholarship,  he  excels  all  in  our  Board  of 
Bishops.  At  the  time  of  his  election  to  the  episcopacy,  in 
1880,  he  had  been  professor  and  president  in  Drew  Theo- 
logical Seminary  for  nine  years,  and  he  had  previously 
been  a  professor  in  Martin  Mission  Institute,  in  Germany, 
for  five  years. 

S.  Halsey  was  again  elected  secretary,  with  J.  R. 
Creighton  and  A.  J.  Benjamin,  assistants.  A  slight  change 
is  seen  in  the  statistical  secretaries.  S.  Smith  was  again 
elected  principal,  and  P.  W.  Peterson  was  still  his  first  as- 
sistant ;  W.  B.  Robinson  and  Geo.  W.  White  were  also 
elected  as  his  assistants. 

In  reviewing  the  work  of  the  year  we  see  nothing  re- 
markable. The  hosts  of  our  Zion  seem  to  have  done  little 
more  than  to  hold  the  ground  already  gained.  This,  when 
a  fever  of  emigration  rages  (as  about  this  time  it  seems  to 
have  done),  is  success.  Still  we  can  hardly  be  satisfied 
with  such  a  state  of  things.  It  should  awaken  anxiety  and 
prompt  to  greater  activity. 


ANNALS  OF  1883.  293 

The  membership  in  the  Conference  underwent  consider- 
able change.  We  received  five  by  transfer,  fifteen  on  trial, 
and  one  on  credentials  from  the  Bible  Christian  Church. 
On  the  other  hand,  we  lost  five  by  transfer,  two  by  death, 
and  four  by  location. 

Of  those  who  were  transferred  to  other  Conferences, 
one,  B.  M.  Fulmer,  had  been  with  us  a  score  of  years.  He 
went  to  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference.  The  name  of 
G.  W.  Burtch  first  appeared  in  our  Minutes  in  1869.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  Nebraska  Conference.  F.  F.  Teeter, 
who  came  to  us  in  1877,  was  transferred  to  Minnesota  Con- 
ference. C.  L.  Logan,  who  went  to  Kock  River  Confer- 
ence, had  been  with  us  since  1878.  So  far  as  appears  they 
all  did  good  work  and  left  grateful  memories  behind  them. 

The  name  of  J.  E.  Gilbert  appears  in  our  list  of  ap- 
pointments in  1871,  as  "General  Superintendrnt  of  State 
Sunday-school  Institute  and  Missionary  Classes."  This  was 
a  new  department  of  work  among  us,  and  it  seems  not  to 
have  been  perpetuated.  Our  published  records  give  no  in- 
formation as  to  whence  Mr.  Gilbert  came,  or  whither  he 
went.  In  1880  his  name  reappears.  He  served  Summer- 
field  Church,  Milwaukee,  three  years,  and  was  then  trans- 
ferred to  Michigan  Conference.  He  was  a  man  of  energy, 
tact,  good  address,  fair  ability,  sufficient  self-assurance,  and 
emphatically  an  itinerant — remaining  but  a  short  period  in 
any  Annual  Conference. 

Jonathan  Whitney  and  Henry  Bannister  were 
removed  by  death. 

Mr.  Whitney  entered  the  Vermont  Conference  in  1844, 
and  located  in  1852.  In  1857  he  was  readmitted  to  the 
itinerancy  in  our  Conference,  and  did  effective  work  for 
twelve  years,  and  then  retired  to  the  superannuate  ranks, 
where  he  remained  until  he  entered  into  his  long-sought 
rest,  February  18,  1883.  He  died  in  Minneapolis,  having 
spent  the  last  few  years  of  his  life  in  Minnesota. 


294  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Seldom  does  it  fall  to  the  lot  of  any  one  to  chronicle 
the  death  of  such  a  man  as  Dr.  Henry  Bannister.  In  real 
manliness,  true  nobility,  profound  and  extensive  scholarship, 
unaffected  humility,  and  uniform  piety,  he  has  had  few 
equals.  The  writer's  second  pastoral  field  was  the  residence 
of  Henry  Bannister's  boyhood.  He  was  then  just  entering 
upon  his  life-work  as  a  teacher.  Such  was  the  impression 
made  on  the  writer's  mind  by  the  tender  expressions  of  esteem 
for  "  Brother  Henry,"  that  there  were  few  men  in  the  Church 
or  the  Nation  whom  he  desired  more  to  see.  After  the 
acquaintance  was  formed,  matured,  and  continued  through 
many  years,  his  ideal  was  fully  realized.  jNIr.  Bannnister 
prepared  for  college  at  the  Oneida  Conference  Seminary, 
graduated  from  Wesleyan  University  in  1836,  and  from 
the  Auburn  Theological  Seminary  in  1839.  This  was  a 
Presbyterian  institution ;  we  had  none  then  of  that  kind. 
He  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  the  first  named  school,  and 
others,  until  1856,  when  he  was  elected  professor  of  exe- 
getical  theology  in  the  Biblical  Institute,  at  Evanston,  111., 
just  chartered.  The  faculty  consisted  of  Drs.  Dempster, 
Kidder,  and  Bannister — a  noble  trio.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Oneida  Conference  from  1842  until  his  transfer  to 
ours,  in  1857.  He  ceased  to  work  and  live,  April  15,  1883. 
Thus  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century  he  honored  both 
our  Conference  and  the  Institute.  No  pen  can  describe  the 
influence  for  good  that  went  out  from  him  through  the 
hundreds  he  had  faithfully  instructed  in  Biblical  lore. 

In  addition  to  the  two  ministers  who  "  finished  their 
course"  this  year,  Mrs.  Adelia  S.  Anderson  was  called 
away.  In  early  life  she  had  a  thorough  religious  and  Meth- 
odistic  training.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  she  conse- 
crated herself  to  God,  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  continued  a  faithful  member  until  her  death, 
on  the  13th  of  April,  1883.  On  the  fourth  day  of  No- 
vember, 1863,  she  was  married  to  Kev.  Joseph  Anderson, 


ANNALS  OF  1SS3.  295 

of  our  Conference,  and  assumed  the  care  of  a  large  family 
of  boys,  whose  mother  had  gone  to  her  reward.  It  was  a 
delicate  position,  but  she  was  equal  to  it.  So  kind  in  her 
temper,  and  so  skillful  in  government  was  she,  that  after  a 
little  they  seemed  not  to  realize  that  any  change  had  taken 
place  in  the  domestic  circle.  As  a  pastor's  wife  she  was 
modest,  earnest,  useful,  much  esteemed  by  the  people,  and 
a  wise  counselor. 

A  new  exhibition  of  Christian  philanthropy  was  this 
year  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  Conference;  viz.,  the 
"Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church."  This  was  intended,  not  to  antagonize 
the  foreign  work  in  which  the  women  of  the  Churches  had 
become  very  much  interested,  but  to  supplement  it.  It 
came  to  us  in  this  light:  "The  plan  of  this  society  is  to 
send  into  the  neglected  and  destitute  regions  of  our  own 
land.  Christian  w^omen  to  teach  in  schools  where  such  can  be 
collected,  and  also  to  give  religious  instruction  by  going 
into  the  homes  of  the  needy."  The  Conference  gave  it  a 
hearty  indorsement,  assisted  to  organize  it  for  work,  and 
sent  it  on  its  mission.  It  is  still  a  living  force  in  the  gen- 
eral work. 

Dr.  E.  D.  Huntley  was  this  year  succe.eded  in  the  presi- 
dency of  the  university  by  Dr.  Bradford  P.  Kaymond.  The 
former  was  appointed  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Metropolitan 
Church  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  soon  after  was  elected 
chaplain  of  the  United  States  Senate.  The  latter  will  be 
heard  from  in  future  pages.  It  is  sufficient  now  to  say  that 
the  friends  of  the  college  were  greatly  encouraged  by  the 
outlook. 

The  districts  were  the  same  as  the  last  year,  but  there 
were  several  changes  in  their  incumbents.  I.  S.  Leavitt 
succeeded  H.  Colman  on  Milwaukee  District ;  S.  Lugg, 
A.  J.  Mead,  on  Janesville;  and  J.  K.  Creighton,  A.  P. 
Mead,  on  Waupaca. 


296  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Delegates  were  also  elected  at  this  Conference  to  the 
General  Conference  to  be  held  in  May,  1884.  They  were 
as  follows:  "W.  P.  Stowe,  S.  Halsey,  Joseph  Anderson, 
J.  M.  Walker;  reserves — A.  J.  Mead,  Thos.  Clithero. 

The  Electoral  Conference  held  this  year  was  organized 
on  Friday,  the  5th  of  October,  by  the  election  of  Hon. 
Edwin  Hyde  as  president,  and  Leander  Ferguson  as  secre- 
tary. Mr.  Hyde  had  been  president  of  two  similar 
Conferences ;  so  this  third  election  was  very  complimentary. 
Geo.  H.  Foster  and  M.  D.  Moore  were  elected  delegates 
to  the  General  Conference ;  H.  S.  Alban  and  S.  C.  Blake, 
reserves. 

Both  Conferences  —  clerical  and  lay  —  took  decided 
ground  against  any  change  in  the  ' '  time  limit "  as  to  the 
term  of  pastoral  service. 


r^ 


f¥. 


Rev.   JOHN   L.    HEWITT,    A.    M. 

Prt'sidiiio-  Elder,  J\lilwankee  District. 


ANNALS  OF  IS84.  297 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

1884-5. 

ON  the  first  day  of  October,  1884,  the  Conference  met 
in  Oshkosh,  being  its  third  session  in  that  city,  with 
intervals  of  just  ten  years. 

Biship  W.  F.  Mallalieu,  elected  to  the  episcopacy  in 
the  next  preceding  May,  presided.  Though  Dr.  Mallalieu 
had  been  for  several  years  a  prominent  and  highly  es- 
teemed member  of  the  New  England  Conference,  he  was 
probably  less  known  to  the  Church  at  large  than  those 
elevated  to  the  episcopacy  usually  are.  Perhaps  his  most 
distinguishing  characteristics  are  fervent  piety,  thorough 
consecration  to  his  work,  and  great  skill  in  reaching  prac- 
tical results. 

S.  Halsey  was  re-elected  secretary,  and  A.  J.  Benjamin, 
assistant;  S.  Smith  was  also  reelected  statistical  secretary, 
with  W.  B.  Robinson  and  W.  J.  Fisher,  assistants. 

The  Conference  was  held  in  the  "First  Church" — so 
called  after  one  had  been  erected  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river.  But  the  edifice  was  quite  different  from  the  one  in 
which  we  held  ouY  former  sessions  there.  This  church  was 
somewhat  described  in  the  annals  of  other  years,  especially 
its  financial  embarrassment.  It  is  now  recorded  with  grat- 
itude that  the  noble  baud  of  brethren  on  whose  shoulders 
a  heavy  burden  rested  were  so  encouraged  by  the  sym- 
pathy and  aid  of  the  Conference  that  they  renewed  their 
efforts  and  rescued  the  Church.  It  is  practically  free  from 
debt,  the   rent   of  the   stores   under  the  auditorium  fully 

25 


298  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

meeting  their  interest.  It  is  also  expected  that  they  will 
soon  pay  off  the  indebtedness  itself.  The  house  stands  on 
the  corner  of  Main  and  Merritt  Streets — just  the  place  for 
.a  people's  church — is  a  magnificent  structure,  will  seat  a 
thousand  people,  has  a  fine  organ,  and  all  the  conveniences 
for  successful  work.  In  short,  it  is  a  monument  to  the 
wisdom  and  foresight  of  its  projectors. 

The  reader  will  see  in  the  Annals  of  1869  an  account 
of  the  Second  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  this  city. 

Since  our  session  here  in  1874  still  another  Church 
has  been  organized,  known  as  Algoma  Street  Church. 
As  early  as  1870  it  was  seen  that  church  privileges  were 
needed  in  the  western  part  of  the  city.  Services  were  ac- 
cordingly commenced  there .  by  John  Cowham,  a  local 
preacher,  in  the  upper  part  of  a  carpenter-shop  owned  by 
E.  L.  Paine.  These  were  continued  until  1874,  when  a 
separate  charge  was  formed,  and  W.  F.  Kandolph  ap- 
pointed pastor.  During  that  year  a  church  edifice  was 
erected.  It  has  been  a  prosperous  field.  Altogether  our 
cause  has  obtained  a  strong  position  in  the  city. 

In  looking  after  the  changes  among  our  members  this 
year,  we  find  that  two  had  fallen  by  death — Hiram  Her- 
SEY  and  J.  T.  Boynton. 

Mr.  Hersey  entered  the  itinerant  field  in  Wisconsin 
Conference  at  its  formation,  in  1848,  and  did  faithful  work 
for  about  twenty  years;  then  became  superannuated, 
and  soon  removed  to  Iowa,  where  he  died,  February  9, 
1884,  after  more  than  forty  years  of  irreproachable  Chris- 
tian life. 

Mr.  Boynton  was  received  in  1868,  and  proved  himself 
a  very  useful  minister  until  the  partial  failure  of  his  health, 
which  compelled  him  to  retire  to  the  supernumerary  ranks. 
His  death  occurred  in  Alto,  May  27,  1884. 

Mrs.  Eva  F.  Curtiss,  wife  of  Rev.  O.  A.  Curtiss,  also 
passed  from  labor  to   rest  during  this   year.      She  was  a 


ANNALS  OF  I884.  299 

noble,  promising  young  woman.  She  graduated  from  Law- 
rence University  in  1877,  in  the  same  class  with  her  hus- 
band, taking  the  second  honor,  as  be  did  the  first.  On  the 
22d  of  November,  1883,  this  promising  life  ceased  on  earth, 
to  be  continued  in  a  brighter  sphere. 

There  were  still  other  changes.  W.  C.  Waldron  and 
S.  N.  GrifiSth  were  located.  They  were  both  graduates  of 
Lawrence.  The  former  was  also  a  graduate  of  Garrett 
Biblical  Institute.  The  latter  had  been  a  professor  in  the 
university.  For  some  reason,  neither  of  them  met  expec- 
tation in  their  Conference  work. 

Five  were  transferred  to  other  Conferences.  They  had 
been  in  Conference  relations  but  a  short  time,  but  deemed 
it  best  to  go  to  other  fields. 

Eight  were  received  on  trial ;  two  came  to  us  by  trans- 
fer, and  seven  on  credentials  from  other  Churches.  Of 
these  last-named,  four  came  from  the  Bible  Christians,  two 
from  the  Methodist  Church  in  Canada,  and  one  from  the 
Primitive  Methodist  Church. 

G.  W.  Wells  succeeded  J.  M.  Walker  on  Appletou 
District. 

As  usual,  the  Conference  sent  forth  bold  utterances 
against  the  rum-fiend,  and  gave  encouragement  to  other 
benevolent  and  humanitarian  lines  of  work. 

There  was  an  increase  this  year  of  nineteen  church  ed- 
ifices, ten  of  which  were  from  the  Bible  Christians.  This 
denomination  was  a  branch  of  the  Methodist  family.  It 
had  its  origin  in  England  by  a  secession  from  the  Wesley- 
ans  in  1815.  In  that  country  and  in  Canada  it  became 
quite  numerous ;  but  in  the  United  States,  outside  of  Wis- 
consin, it  was  scarcely  known,  and  here  it  had  only  four 
pastoral  charges.  These  were  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  Conference  in  Canada,  and,  as  all  the  branches  of 
Methodism  there  had  recently  consolidated  into  one  body, 
the  Churches  in  this  State,  with  the  ministers,  deemed  it 


300  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

unwise  to  continue  a  separate  denomination.  After  due 
deliberation,  they  disbanded,  and  united  with  the  Wiscon- 
sin Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1881,  Antigo,  a  rising  tow^n  on  the  Milwaukee, 
Lake  Shore  and  Western  Railroad,  first  appeared  in  our 
Minutes  as  a  pastoral  charge.  This  year  a  new  church 
edifice  is  reported  from  there,  and  there  is  every  indication 
of  continued  prosperity. 

The  most  remarkable  of  all  is  Washington  Avenue 
Church,  in  Milwaukee.  It  seems  to  be  the  child  of  the 
"  City  Missionary  and  Church  Extension  Society."  The 
project  of  erecting  it  was  conceived  in  1883,  and  a  sub- 
scription of  $2,100  was  secured  by  Dr.  H.  Colman,  then 
presiding  elder  of  the  district.  The  contract  for  the  build- 
ing was  made  in  March,  1884,  aud  it  was  dedicated  on 
the  13th  of  the  follown'ng  July.  In  size  it  is  sixty-two  by 
thirty-six  feet.  On  the  17th  .of  July  the  organization  of 
a  society  was  effected  by  the  transfer  of  eighteen  members 
from  Grand  Avenue  Church,  and  one  from  Asbury,  in 
the  city.  They  were  at  once  supplied  with  a  pastor,  and 
entered  immediately  upon  aggressive  and  successful  work. 
During  the  two  years'  pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  R.  Creighton, 
which  commenced  in  1886,  the  edifice  was  remodeled  and 
enlarged.  A  parsonage  was  also  erected,  valued  at  $6,000. 
The  estimated  value  of  the  church  in  1889  was  $18,000. 
At  Marinette  a  neat,  attractive  church  was  erected,  to  take 
the  place  of  one  that  had  served  a  good  purpose  since 
1870,  but  could  no  longer  meet  the  demands  of  the  grow- 
ing city.  It  is  well  furnished  with  rooms  adapted  to  evan- 
gelistic work.     Its  estimated  value  is  $14,000. 

A  new  church  was  erected  at  Kenosha,  also — not  as 
the  sanctuary  for  a  new  pastoral  charge,  but  as  successor 
of  the  one  described  in  preceding  pages,  dating  back  to 
1840.  In  1845  it  was  removed  from  its  original  site.  In 
1871  it  was  greatly  improved   at  an   expense  of  $2,500. 


ANNALS  OF  1885.  301 

It  was  burned  February  4,  1883.  The  present  edifice  was 
dedicated  on  the  16th  of  the  next  December.  In  size  it 
is  sixty-six  by  thirty-six  feet,  and  will  seat  three  hundred. 
It  also  has  space  for  a  large  organ,  and  ample  entrance  under 
tower.  The  lecture-room  in  the  basement  will  accommodate 
the  Sunday-school  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  scholars.  Near 
by  is  a  fine  parsonage,  valued,  in  1889,  at  $2,600.  The 
church  was  valued  at  $10,000. 

1885. 
In  1851  and  in  1863  our  Conference  was  entertained  at 
Waukesha.     We  met  there  again  this  year  for  our  annual 
session.     But   what  a  change   in  the   appearance  of  the 
town  ! 

An  unpretentious  spring,  that  had  been  for  ages  send- 
ing out  a  small  rivulet  to  refresh  man  and  beast,  had  now 
become  almost  world-wide  in  its  reputation  for  its  wonder- 
ful curative  properties.  Many  were  thereby  attracted,  and 
the  small  village  was  rapidly  taking  on  the  aspect  and' pro- 
portions of  a  city— a  result  due  largely  to  iw^er-power. 

Our  people  here  had  been  unfortunate  as  to  their  church 
edifices.  The  first,  a  frame  building,  was  erected  in  1842 
and  burned  September  15,  1861.  This  was  followed  by  a 
much  larger  one,  built  of  stone.  It  was  dedicated  late  in 
1862,  and  burned  July  24,  1882.  The  one,  in  which  We 
this  year  held  our  session,  was  dedicated  June  17,  1883. 
It  is  a  massive  stone  edifice,  well  equipped  with  needed 
rooms,  and  cost  $10,350.     Its  seating  capacity  is  450. 

On  the  eighth  day  of  October,  Bishop  Bowman  called 
the  Conference  to  order.  According  to  our  custom,  the 
sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  preceded  the  business  of 
the  session. 

S.  Halsey  was  again  elected  secretary,  and  A.  J.  Ben- 
jamin and  R.  W.  Bosworth,  assistants. 

S.  Smith,  for  the  sixteenth  time  sleeted  statistical  sec- 


302  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

retary,  asked  to  be  relieved,  and,  on  his  nomination,  W.  J. 
Fisher  was  elected  as  such.  W.  B.  Robinson  and  F.  A. 
Pease  were  his  assistants. 

Four  were  received  on  trial,  four  by  transfer  from  other 
Conferences,  and  one  on  credentials  from  the  Free-will 
Baptist  Church  ;  three  had  died,  two  were  discontinued  from 
probation,  two  withdrew,  seven  were  transferred  to  other 
Conferences,  one  located,  and  three  more  passed  to  the  re- 
tired list  than  last  year.  So  our  active  force  was  consider- 
ably diminished. 

Appleton  and  Waupaca  Districts  were  reconstructed, 
portions  of  each  forming  what  is  now  Appleton  District, 
and  other  portions  constituting  Oshkosh  District.  J.  D. 
Cole  was  appointed  to  the  former,  and  G.  W.  Wells  to  the 
latter. 

S.  Halsey  was  appointed  to  the  charge  of  Fond  du  Lac 
District,  G.  H.  Moulton's  term  having  expired. 

J.  M.  Walker,  for  forty  years  a  member  of  the  Con- 
ference, failed  at  this  session  to  respond  to  the  roll-call  of 
the  secretary — a  higher  authority  having  called  him  to  a 
greater  "  assembly."  He  served  the  Church  long  and  well, 
and  when  his  work  was  done  he  was  ready  to  depart. 
"His  sufferings  during  his  last  illness  were  extreme. 
He  often  wondered  uncomplainingly  at  the  mystery  of  suf- 
fering. Yet  faith  triumphed.  His  frequent  exclamations 
were:  'All  is  bright  beyond  the  river.'  'I  am  at  the 
brink  waiting.'  'I  have  many  friends  to  hold  me  here, 
but  many  beckon  me  on.'"  He  chose,  as  the  text  for  his 
funeral  sermon,  2  Tim.  iv,  7-8:  ''I  have  fought  a  good 
fight."  Thus  passed  this  veteran,  on  the  3d  of  April,  1885, 
from  conflict  to  coronation.* 


■■■Mr.  Walker  was  the  fourth  pastor  taken  away  by  death 
from  the  Church  at  Ripoh.  J,  M.  S.  Maxson  was  the  first.  He 
died  June  19,  1858;  Henry  Requa  followed  INIay  19,  1865; 
and  Isaac  Wiltse,  May  30,  1877. 


ANNALS  OF  1885.  303 

Alexander  C.  Huntley,  another  veterao,  scarred 
with  the  battles  of  forty  years,  followed  Mr.  Walker,  on 
the  7th  of  September,  the  same  year.  In  1845  he  was 
received  by  the  Genesee  Conference  on  trial.  Thus  both 
were  in  the  itinerancy  about  the  same  period.  Mr.  Hunt- 
ley was  transferred  to  our  Conference  in  1857,  and  con- 
tinued in  the  active  work  until  stricken  down  by  disease, 
early  in  January,  1885.  His  last  sermon  was  preached 
on  the  4th  of  that  month,  from  the  text,  "  Godliness  is 
profitable  unto  all  things,"  etc.  (1  Tim.  iv,  8.)  He  had 
proved  its  value  "in  the  life  that  now  is,"  and  was  soon 
called  to  realize  its  value  in  "  that  which  is  to  come." 

James  Richardson  was  received  by  our  Conference 
on  trial  in  1878,  and  served  in  the  effective  ranks  about 
six  years.  In  1884  he  was  placed  on  the  supernumerary 
list,  and  died  December  29th  of  the  same  year.  But 
though  his  term  of  service  was  much  shorter  than  the 
veterans  just  described,  he  may  have  received  the  same 
plaudit— "  Well  done  !" 

There  had  been  considerable  success  during  the  year 
in  securing  additional  endowment  for  the  university,  by 
the  earnest  efforts  of  the  agent,  Thomas  Clithero,  and 
President  Raymond. 

The  benevolences  were  generally  well  cared  for,  though 
a  slight  falling  off  in  some  of  them. 

Of  the  seven  transferred,  only  three  had  been  with  us 
long.  G.  H.  Moulton  was  received  on  trial  in  1868,  J.  H. 
Brooks  in  1869,  and  T.  H.  Walker  in  1874.  They  had 
all  done  valuable  work.  The  first  named  was  in  charge 
of  Fond  du  Lac  District  for  four  years.  D.  J.  Holmes 
was  transferred  to  us  from  Rock  River  Conference 
in  1878,  and  C.  M.  Heard  from  Minnesota  in  1881. 
This  year  they  were  re-transferred  to  their  former  Con- 
ferences. 

The  withdrawal  of  two  has  been  mentioned.     They  w^ere 


304  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

I.  L.  Hauser  and  Samuel  Reynolds.  The  former  joined 
our  Conference  in  1860,  and  was  for  a  time  a  missionary  in 
India.  He  never  held  an  effective  relation  to  the  Confer- 
ence after  his  return.  The  latter  was  transferred  to  us  in 
1867,  and  was  for  several  years  district  superintendent  of 
the  American  Bible  Society  in  Wisconsin  and  Michigan. 
After  leaving  that  work,  he  was  in  the  pastorate  till  about 
the  time  of  his  withdrawal. 

Ordinary  success  attended  the  labors  of  the  year.  A 
small  church  edifice  at  Wausau,  that  had  served  its  pur- 
pose, was  succeeded  by  a  much  larger  and  better  one.  Its 
estimated  value  is  $6,000. 

In  the  report  on  Temperance,  which  is  well  ''up  to  the 
times,"  there  is  an  allusion  to  the  supposed  "centenary  of 
the  temperance  movement  in  this  country,"  and  a  recogni- 
tion of  ' '  the  providence  of  God  in  all  that  has  been  accom- 
plished from  the  time  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush  until  now." 

This  was  well.  But  the  Conference  wisely  refrained 
from  committing  itself  to  the  assumption  that  1885  was  the 
true  centenary  of  this  reform.  This  idea  originated  with 
Dr.  Daniel  Dorchester,  who  had  become  so  noted  as  an  au- 
thority that  many  received  his  conclusions  without  ques- 
tioning them.  His  position  was,  that  as  Dr.  Rush,  in 
1785,  published  a  treatise  setting  forth  the  injurious  effects 
of  alcoholic  liquor  "  on  the  body  and  mind,"  which  pro- 
duced a  deep  and  wide-spread  impression,  and  probably  led 
to  the  formation  of  a  temperance  society  in  1808,  therefore 
1885  should  be  regarded  as  the  centennial  of  the  temperance 
reformation.  Plausible  as  his  reasoning  is,  it  is  difficult 
to  find  a  more  fallacious  argument  urged  by  an  intelligent  and 
honest  man.  But  this  subject  can  not  be  discussed  here  at 
length.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  no  organized  work  sprang 
from  this  treatise  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and 
that  this  society  of  1808  was  ephemeral,  having  a  short 
existence,  without  succession.     Now,  as  all  Churches  and 


ANNALS  OF  1885.  305 

other  associations  trace  the  beginning  of  their  existence  to 
some  organization,  or  concerted  action  of  a  representative 
body,  1785  should  not  be  regarded  as  the  natal  year  of  the 
Temperance  Reformation. 

Besides,  if  an  exception  is  made  in  this  case  to  uni- 
form custom,  then  the  date  should  be  carried  back  many 
years ;  for  Dr.  Dorchester  admits  that  Dr.  Rush  was  in- 
fluenced largely  in  the  formation  of  his  temperance  senti- 
ments by  Bishop  Asbury,  who  was  a  frequent  guest  at  his 
house.  And  the  bishop  owed  his  views  and  practice  as 
largely  to  Wesley's  rule  on  the  use  of  spirituous  liquor  as 
it  now  stands  in  our  book  of  Discipline.  This  fact  would 
place  the  date  of  the  temperance  reformation  back  more 
than  forty  years  prior  to  1785,  according  to  Dr.  Dorches- 
ter's reasoning.* 


*  On  the  13th  of  February,  1826,  the  American  Temperance 
Society  was  formed,  after  considerable  preliminary  arrange- 
ments. This  was  the  beginning  of  organized  temperance- 
work  in  this  country,  except  in  sporadic  cases ;  and  therefore 
should  be  regarded  as  the  beginning  of  the  temperance  refor- 
mation. 


806  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  XX. 
1886-7. 

BISHOP  MERRILL  appeared  in  1886  as  the  presi- 
ident  of  our  Conference.  This  was  his  second  official 
visit,  the  first  being  thirteen  years  before.  He  had  gained, 
in  the  meantime,  considerable  reputation  as  a  presiding 
officer  and  as  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  analytical  and 
judicial  ability.  Had  he  been  bred  to  the  law,  he  would 
have  been  competent  for  a  seat  on  the  bench  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  the  Nation. 

The  Conference  was  held  in  Berlin,  a  fine,  growing  city 
on  the  Upper  Fox  River,  commencing  on  the  twenty-third 
day  of  September. 

The  beginning  of  Methodism  here  was  in  1850,  when  a 
Mr.  Bassenger  preached  and  formed  a  class.  The  next 
year  the  existing  church  edifice  was  commenced.  The 
place  first  appears  as  a  pastoral  charge  in  1853.  In  1863 
the  parsonage  was  built.  The  charge  has  been  constantly 
rising  in  importance. 

S.  Halsey  was  again  elected  secretary  of  the  Confer- 
ence, and  R.  W.  Bosworth  and  A.  J.  Benjamin  assistants. 
The  statistical  secretaries  of  the  last  year  were  re-elected. 

The  roll-call  showed  that  two  of  our  old  and  well-tried 
members  had  finished  their  work,  D.  C.  Jones  and  W.  H. 
Window. 

The  former  entered  our  Conference  on  trial  in  1851,  and 
remained  in  the  eflfective  work  thirty-four  years.  He  was 
a  Welshman  by  birth,  and  always  showed  marks  of  his  na- 
tionality.    He  was  thoroughly  trustworthy,  carefully  guard- 


.4.viv^r.,S'  OF  1SS6.  307 

ing  every  interest  committed  to  him.  In  1885  he  was 
placed  on  the  list  of  supernumeraries,  though  he  seemed 
reluctant  to  admit  that  he  was  sufficiently  enfeebled  to  jus- 
tify him  in  taking  that  relation.  On  the  20th  of  the  follow- 
ing May  he  passed  beyond  the  scenes  of  earth.  The  day 
before  he  baptized  his  little  grandson,  saying,  as  he  did  so  : 
"  This  is  probably  the  last  official  act  of  my  life." 

Mr.  Window,  though  an  older  man,  had  not  been  as 
long  with  us.  He  entered  the  Illinois  Conference  in  1834, 
preached  several  years,  and  then  located  and  practiced 
medicine  for  several  years  more.  He  joined  our  Confer- 
ence, by  readmission,  in  1868,  labored  successfully  for  a 
few  years,  and  then  became  superannuated.  He  entered 
into  rest  July  5,  1886,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his  age. 

C.  W.  Brewer,  who  was  readmitted  to  our  Conference 
in  1866,  and  had  done  good  work  when  his  health  would 
permit,  was  this  year  transferred  to  Colorado  Conference. 

J!  H.  Cooper,  a  probationer  of  one  year's  standing,  was 
transferred  to  Liberia  Conference. 

H.  C.  Myers,  transferred  to  us  in  1883,  located.  So 
also  did  E.  B.  Lounsbury,  who  had  been  with  us  since 
1880. 

John  Faville,  who  joined  our  Conference  in  1876,  with- 
drew from  the  connection  this  year,  and  became  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  Church  in  Appleton.  We  regarded 
him  as  a  young  man  of  much  promise.  He  is  having  fine 
success  in  his  new  field. 

C.  Bristol  also  withdrew  from  us ;  but  whence  he  came 
or  whither  he  went,  this  writer  knows  not. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  from  all  causes  we  lost  eight. 
But  as  an  offset  we  received  sixteen  ;  one  of  whom,  Enoch 
Savage,  came  from  the  Congregational  Church. 

The  report  on  Temperance  was  enthusiastically  adopted. 
In  it  the  liquor-traffic  was  severely  castigated.  The  Sioux 
City  tragedy  is  attributed   to   it,   and   all   our  people  are 


308  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

urged  to  exercise  their  civil  franchise  for  its  destruction. 
A  strong  and  well-written  petition  to  Congress  was  adopted, 
urging  that  body  to  indemnify  those  Chinamen  who  had 
suffered  so  severely  from  hoodlums  in  the  West,  and  to 
protect  them  in  the  future ;  also  fhat  all  oppressive  re- 
strictions be  removed.  The  Conference  was  still  earnest 
in  its  attempt  to  more  fully  endow^  the  university.  The 
reports  of  numbers  and  of  benevolent  work  make  a  very 
fair  appearance,  yet  they  came  far  short  of  the  desirable 
point. 

A  committee,  appointed  at  the  last  session,  reported  at 
this  a  constitution  of  a  Conference  Historical  Society. 
The  society  was  duly  organized,  by  the  adoption  of  the 
constitution  and  the  election  of  Dr.  B.  P.  Raymond,  presi- 
dent; C.  E.  Carpenter,  J.  L.  Hewitt,  Henry  Sewell,  T.  C. 
Willson,  and  J.  T.  Woodhead,  vice-presidents;  P.  S.  Ben- 
nett, corresponding  secretary  ;  H.  P.  Haylett  recording  sec- 
retary ;  Dr.  H.  Colman,  treasurer;  and  D.  W.  Ames, 
archivist  and  librarian.  The  special  object  of  the  society 
is  to  collect  and  preserve  historical  facts  and  incidents  of 
value  for  future  use. 

The  most  remarkable  though  not  the  most  pleasant  fea- 
ture of  this  session  was,  that  it  being  near  "  car-time,"  not 
more  than  one-quarter  of  the  members  remained  till  the  ad- 
journment. Much  of  the  moral  effect  of  an  Annual  Confer- 
ence is  sometimes  discounted  by  a  too  hasty  adjournment. 

1887. 

Appleton  received  the  Conference  this  year  for  the 
fourth  time.     It  was  held  October  5-10. 

Bishop  Charles  H.  Fowler  presided.  Like  all  the  other 
bishops,  he  had  a  previous  record  that  showed  the  high  es- 
teem in  which  he  was  held  by  the  Church  at  large. 

He  had  been  successively  pastor  of  important  Churches 
in  Chicago,  president  of  the  Northwestern   University,  at 


ANNALS  OF  1887.  309 

Evanston,  111.,  editor  of  the  Christian  Advocate  in  New 
York,  and  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  elected 
bishop  in  1884. 

K.  W.  Bosworth  was  elected  secretary,  and  H.  P.  Hay- 
lett  and  C.  E.  Goldthorp,  assistants. 

W.  J.  Fisher  was  re-elected  statistical  secretary,  w4th 
W.  B.  Robinson  and  E.  Duckworth,  assistants. 

Since  the  last  session  five  of  our  ministers  and  the  wives 
of  two  others  had  joined  the  larger  company  on  the  other 
shore. 

A.  P.  Mead  was  the  first  of  this  number  to  go  thither 
at  the  Master's  call.  He  entered  the  itinerancy  in  1850, 
in  the  Oneida  Conference.  In  1862  he  became  connected 
with  the  Rock  River  Conference,  and  in  1875  was  trans- 
ferred to  ours.  He  served  several  important  charges,  and 
one  district  for  three  years.  In  1883  he  retired  from  the 
active  field,  and  removed  to  Nebraska,  where  he  died, 
December  14,  1886,  after  an  efiPective  ministry  of  thirty- 
three  years,  some  of  which  are  said  to  have  been  marked 
with  unusual  success  in  winning  souls  to  Christ. 

Elijah  Robinson  died  March  10,  1887,  at  Evansville, 
where  he  had  resided  for  many  years  in  a  superannuated 
relation  to  our  Conference.  He  commenced  his  ministry 
in  Vermont.  In  1857  he  entered  our  Conference,  but  was 
soon  compelled  to  retire,  on  account  of  permanently  broken 
health. 

RossiTER  C.  Parsons  was  received  on  trial  in  our  Con- 
ference in  1857,  having  been  employed  a  year  or  two  by 
the  presiding  elder  at  Port  Washington.  He  remained 
with  us  a  few  years,  then  was  transferred  to  New  England 
Conference,  where  he  rendered  valuable  service  till  1876, 
when  he  returned  to  us.  In  1881  he  ceased  from  pastoral 
work,  in  which  he  had  always  done  well,  and  expired  on 
the  27th  of  July,  1887. 


310  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Edward  S.  Grumley  was  called  to  his  inheritance  on 
the  6th  of  August,  1887.  He  gave  thirty-one  years  to 
active  ministerial  service,  ten  in  North  Ohio,  and  twenty- 
one  in  Wisconsin  Conference.  During  four  of  these  he 
was  in  charge  of  Racine  District.  In  all  his  fields  of  labor 
he  was  diligent,  successful,  and  highly  esteemed.  For 
about  sixteen  years  he  was  on  the  retired  list,  the  last  six 
in  Garnett,  Kansas,  where  he  died.  During  the  period 
of  his  superannuation  he  did  much  for  the  Master,  aiding, 
by  his  prayers,  his  sympathy,  and  his  counsels,  those  who 
could  be  more  active,  and  especially  his  pastors.  No  won- 
der his  daughter  could  write:  "Father  died  as  he  lived, 
a  holy  man,  and  has  found  his  long-wished  rest." 

David  S.  Howes  entered  our  ranks  in  1878,  and  was 
a  faithful,  devoted,  successful  preacher  and  pastor  till  the 
Conference  of  1886,  when  he  was  placed  among  the  su- 
perannuates. On  the  23d  of  the  following  November 
he  was  called  to  his  reward,  testifying  to  the  last  "  the 
power  of  Jesus  to  save." 

Two  of  our  ''aged  women,"  who  had  been  intimate 
friends  for  nearly  thirty  years,  and  faithful  workers  with 
their  husbands  for  a  much  longer  period,  were  this  year  num- 
bered with  the  victorious  dead.  These  were  Mrs.  Orpha 
PiLLSBURY,  wife  of  Rcv.  C.  D.  Pillsbury,  and  Mrs.  Cal- 
PHURNiA  C.  Bennett,  wife  of  Rev.  P.  S.  Bennett. 

Mrs.  Pillsbury  consecrated  herself  to  God  in  youth. 
With  her  husband,  she  spent  several  years  in  the  itinerant 
work  in  Maine.  When  they  came  to  Wisconsin  Confer- 
ence, in  1857,  she  had  attained  mature  age  and  command- 
ing influence.  She  was  a  woman  of  rare  excellences. 
Firmness,  kindness,  frankness,  blended  with  sincerity,  and 
entire  devotion  to  her  work,  were  among  her  prominent 
moral  traits.  For  several  years  she  was  a  great  sufferer, 
wasting  away  by  the  constant  gnawing  of  a  cancer,  which 
terminated  her  life  on  the  23d  of  February,  1887,  in  the 


ANNALS  OF  1887.  311 

seventieth  year  of  her  age.  Paul's  reckoning  "that  the 
sufferings  of  this  present  time  are  not  worthy  to  be  com- 
pared with  the  glory  that  shall  be  revealed  in  us,"  comes 
in  to  console  such  a  sufferer,  and  also  sympathizing  friends. 
Those  sufferings  are  ended  ;  the  revelation  of  the  "  glory" 
is  only  begun. 

Mrs.  Bennett  followed  her  friend  on  the  twenty-sev- 
enth day  of  August,  1887,  aged  seventy  years,  six  months, 
and  twenty-one  days.  She,  too,  in  early  youth — even  in 
childhood — began  a  devoted  Christian  life,  which  she 
maintained  *'  to  the  end."  She  had  eleven  years  of  ex- 
perience in  the  itinerant  field,  with  her  husband,  in  the 
Black  River  Conference,  New  York,  and  thirty- eight  in 
Wisconsin.  Everywhere,  and  in  every  way,  she  was 
eminently  helpful  to  him  in  his  work.  Nor  was  she  lim- 
ited to  the  duties  arising  from  that  relation.  "With 
many  important  interests,  social  and  religious,  she  was 
actively  and  officially  identified.  Her  sympathetic  nature 
was  a  telephone  audible  with  the  whispers  of  every  human 
need.  .  .  .  Heaven  was  in  her  plans,  her  work,  her 
words,  her  feelings,  her  thoughts.  She  climbed  Avhere 
Moses  stood.  Even  while  disease  and  suffering  preyed  on 
the  body,  the  spirit  was  crowned  with  glory.  She  thought 
she  was  in  heaven.  It  was  beautiful !  It  was  glorious ! 
'  O,  my  precious  Savior!'  she  said,  then  soon  passed  to  the 
full  realization  of  her  rapturous  vision." 

In  addition  to  our  loss  by  death,  twelve  were  trans- 
ferred to  other  Conferences.  Of  these,  only  three  had  been 
with  us  for  any  considerable  length  of  time.  D.  T.  Olcott 
entered  our  Conference  on  trial  in  1856,  and  did  good, 
faithful  work  for  twenty-seven  years,  then  passed  to  the 
supernumerary  list. 

Wm.  Teal,  another  true  man  and  faithful  worker,  was 
with  us  in  active  service  from  1858  to  1881,  and  as  a  su- 
perannuate after  the  last  date. 


312  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

C.  E.  Smith,  a  young  man  of  promise,  had  been  with 
us  in  effective  work  for  eight  years. 

We  had  received  seven   by  transfer,  and  six  on   trial. 

Three  changes  were  made  in  district  appointees.  J.  R. 
Creighton  succeeded  S.  Halsey  on  Fond  du  Lac  District, 
who,  in  turn,  succeeded  I.  S.  Leavitt  on  Milwaukee  District ; 
and  R.  W.  Bosworth  followed  8.  Lugg  on  Janesville 
District. 

P.  S.  Bennett,  having  been  forty-nine  years  in  the 
itinerant  ministry,  the  Conference  invited  him  to  preach 
his  semi-centennial  sermon  at  the  next  session. 

The  reports  of  the  year  show  a  gratifying  advance  on 
all  the  lines  of  Christian  work.  Two  church  edifices  were 
completed  at  important  points ;  namely,  Kaukauna  and 
Sherman  Street,  Milwaukee. 

The  reader  will  see,  by  referring  to  chapter  ii  of  this 
work,  that  the  first  house  of  worship  connected  with  our 
Church  between  Lake  Michigan  and  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
was  erected  in  1832,  at  the  former  place.  It  was  aban- 
doned when  the  Oneida  Indians  removed  to  their  present 
reservation,  and  long  since  went  to  decay.  The  place  being 
settled  largely  by  foreigners,  little  has  been  done  there  by 
our  people  till  recent  years.  It  has  received  some  pastoral 
labor  in  connection  with  Wrightstown,  and  in  1881  was 
nominally  the  head  of  the  circuit.  During  the  Conference 
year  1885-6,  under  the  administration  of  Rev.  W.  D. 
Ames,  the  new  church  edifice  was  begun,  and  it  was  com- 
pleted in  November,  1886.  It  is  a  beautiful,  substantial, 
commodious  church,  built  after  one  of  our  Church  Exten- 
sion plans,  at  a  cost  of  $4,500.  Its  extreme  length  is  68 
feet,  its  extreme  width  40,  and  will  seat  250  to  300.  A 
young  but  spirited  membership  worships  there.  Great 
credit  is  due  them  for  their  united  efforts  in  its  construc- 
tion ;  to  no  one  more  than  to  N.  H.  Brokaw,  who  was  really 
the  inspiration  of  the  enterprise. 


ANNALS  OF  1887.  313 

Sherman  Street  Church  was  the  "  outgrowth  of  a  mis- 
sion Sunday-school,  which  was  started  several  years  ago  ou 
Tenth  Street"  by  several  members  of  Grand  Avenue  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  among  whom  J.  B.  Bickford  and 
wife  were  very  prominent.  Such  was  the  success  of  the 
enterprise,  that  the  ''  City  Missionary  Society  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church  soon  became  convinced  that  a  Church  was 
needed  in  this  promising  field."  So  in  June,  1886,  a  lot 
was  purchased  (60x120  feet),  work  commenced,  and  the 
Church  dedicated  on  the  third  day  of  the  following  Octo- 
ber. "It  is  an  attractive  structure,  44x72  feet  in  its 
ground  dimensions,  and  has  a  seating  capacity  of  500. 
The  gallery  across  the  front  end  of  the  church  will  seat 
fully  100,  and  the  lecture-rooms  beneath  as  many  more." 
Its  reported  value  is  89,000.  The  dispatch  which  marked 
its  construction  augured  well,  and  so  far  it  is  fully  meeting 
expectation.  Besides  these,  an  old  church  edifice  at  Pal- 
myra, erected  in  1851,  gave  place  to  a  new  and  far  better 
one  during  the  year  just  closed.  The  former  was  a  small 
structure,  in  size  24x32  feet,  that  met  the  needs  of  the 
people  for  the  time.  The  latter  is  a  neat,  tasty  building, 
costing  S3, 000  with  a  seating  capacity  of  about  300,  three 
times  as  many  as  the  former  one.  Four  new  parsonages 
also  were  erected  during  the  year. 

26 


314  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
1888-9. 

RACIKE  was  the  seat  of  our  Conference  in  1888,  and 
for  the  fourth  time.  In  this  respect  it  shared  equal 
honors  with  Appleton  and  Fond  du  Lac,  being  outdone 
only  by  Milwaukee.  The  session  commenced  on  the  twenty- 
sixth  day  of  September,  Bishop  Andrews,  who  was  with 
us  nine  years  before,  presiding.  He  had  grown  more  ven- 
erable in  appearance,  but  not  less  kind  and  affable  in  his 
manners.  H.  P.  Haylett  was  elected  secretary,  and  F.  A. 
Pease  and  G.  H.  Trever  his  assistants.  The  statistical 
secretaries  of  last  year  were  re-elected.  J,  L.  Hewitt  was 
elected  Conference  treasurer. 

In  previous  pages  the  erection  of  two  church  edifices 
in  Racine  has  been  sketched.  The  last  one  described  was 
burned  on  the  5th  of  February,  1882,  "  leaving  the  brick 
walls  in  fair  condition."  To  repair  them,  however,  cost 
$550;  and  to  restore  the  church,  without  spire  or  organ, 
$18,500  "—total,  $19,050.  This  was  a  heavy  burden, 
especially  as  it  came  so  soon  after  the  former.  But  by  ex- 
cellent financiering  it  was  soon  removed.  Great  credit  is 
due  the  pastor.  Rev.  Thomas  Clithero,  for  his  earnest  and 
wise  efforts  in  the  struggle.  It  is  difficult  to  discriminate 
between  the  members,  as  they  all  did  so  well.  If  any  one 
should  be  designated  as  deserving  special  commendation, 
the  honor  would  probably  fall  on  A.  G.  Knight — an  old 
resident  of  the  place,  one  of  the  early  members  of  the 


ANNALS  OF  18SS.  315 

Church,  aud  one  of  its  most  reliable  friends  through  all  its 
vicissitudes.  Ripe  in  years,  and  "rich  in  faith,"  he  re- 
cently departed  to  that  "kingdom"  of  which  he  had  been 
for  many  years  an  "  heir."  In  this  edifice  our  Conference 
held  its  session.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  first  day  the 
writer  tested  the  acoustic  properties  of  the  auditorium  by 
preaching  his  semi-centennial  sermon,  according  to  a  re- 
quest of  the  last  Conference.  The  sermon  was  from  the 
text,  "Preach  the  word"  (2  Timothy,  iv,  2),  and  was 
especially  intended  for  the  younger  ministers. 

There  is  another  Church  under  our  care  in  Racine,  of 
which  no  mention  has  been  made  in  these  chronicles.  It 
is  called  "  Union  Church."  It  took  its  name  from  a  Union 
Sunday-school  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city,  where  it  is 
located.  As  an  appointment,  it  first  appears  in  our  Min- 
utes in  1881.  The  church  edifice  was  first  reported  in 
1882.  For  a  year  or  two  it  promised  well.  It  then  began 
to  be  weakened  by  removals,  and  more  so  for  lack  of  care. 
It  was  supplied  by  students  from  Evanston,  who  could 
give  it  next  to  no  pastoral  work — a  very  effectual  way  to 
prevent  the  growth  of  a  Church  in  a  formative  state. 
Meanwhile  the  missionary  appropriations  formerly  made 
were  cut  oflf.  This  tended  to  discourage  all  the  members, 
and  to  disafi^ect  some.  At  the  preceding  Conference  (1887) 
there  were  appropriated  over  five  thousand  dollars  for 
missions.  Of  this,  two  missions  in  Milwaukee  received 
$400  and  $500  respectively— $900  in  all.  After  each  pre- 
siding elder  had  secured  all  he  asked  for  his  district,  there 
w^ere  about  one  hundred  and  fifly  dollars  left  that  they  did 
not  know  what  to  do  with.  This  sum  was  distributed 
among  places  that  had  already  received  all  that  was  even 
asked  for  them,  and  not  a  dollar  to  the  poor,  struggling  Union 
Church,  though  an  appropriation  had  been  p'omised.  The 
appointee  felt  that  the  treatment  was  severe;  but  he  went 
uncomplainingly,  as  he  ever  had  done,  to  his  work.     Such, 


316  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

however,  were  the  discouragement  and  disaffection  of  the 
society  that  he  remained  but  a  short  time.  It  is  difficult 
to  properly  explain  the  action  of  the  Committee  on 
Missions  in  this  case.  The  least  that  can  be  said  is,  that 
it  shows  inexcusable  indifference  to  the  trust  committed 
to  them.  It  also  suggests  the  inquiry  whether  it  would 
not  be  well  to  associate  an  equal  number  from  the  pastoral 
work  with  the  presiding  elders  to  make  the  missionary 
appropriations. 

For  several  years  more  changes  had  occurred  in  the 
personnel  of  the  Conference  than  formerly.  This  year  was 
not  an  exception.  We  were  re-enforced  by  three  transfers, 
by  seven  received  on  trial,  and  by  four  from  other  de- 
nominations— fourteen  in  all.  This  number  was  exactly 
matched  by  seven  deaths,  six  transfers,  and  one  with- 
drawal. 

Those  who  left  us  by  transfer  stood  well  with  us, 
though  they  had  not  been  long  in  the  Conference. 

Olin  A.  Curtiss,  one  of  the  number,  has  recently  been 
elected'to  a  professorship  in  the  theological  department  of 
Boston  University.  C.  A.  Stockwell  went  to  Tennessee 
Conference ;  T.  H.  Dry,  to  West  Nebraska ;  Victor  Char- 
roiu,  to  Black  Hills;  W.  H.  HoUister,  to  South  India; 
E.  O.  Bullock,  to  Dakota;  and  O.  A.  Curtiss,  to  Rock 
River  Conference. 

Of  the  deceased,  the  first  called  was  George  S.  Hubbs 
He  was  received  on  trial  in  1865,  and  though  rather  frail 
physically,  he  continued  in  the  effective  ranks  till  1883.  In 
vain  he  sought  health  by  a  change  of  climate.  He  con- 
tinued to  decline  till  October  12,  1887,  when,  to  use  his 
own  words  in  anticipation  of  the  event,  he  "got  over  the 
line,"  and  was  "  well."  He  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary ability,  and  acquired  much  knowledge  under  great 
difficulties.     He  filled  several  important  appointments  sue- 


ANNALS  OF  1<S8S.  317 

ce-fsfuUy,    everywhere  commanding  respect  as  a  preacher 
and  pastor. 

George  Fellows  commenced  his  itinerant  ministry  in 
1852.  During  most  of  the  intervening  time  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  January  31,  1888,  he  was  connected 
with  our  Conference,  filling  several  important  appoint- 
ments, and  serving  four  years  on  Waupuu  District.  In 
1882  he  retired  from  the  active  field.  He  was  still  able  to 
study,  and  as  he  had  paid  some  attention  to  medicine,  he 
reneW'cd  his  studies  in  that  line,  graduated  from  the 
Hahnemann  Medical  College  in  1885,  and  settled  in 
Waukesha.  On  the  evening  of  January  31,  1888,  he  ate 
his  supper  in  usual  health,  and  in  a  few  minutes  expired 
without  a  groan,  stricken  by  apoplexy. 

William  Anderson  was  received  on  trial  in  1867, 
worked  earnestly  and  with  considerable  success  till  1870, 
when  he  superannuated,  and  moved  to  Missouri,  where  he 
died  on  the  28th  of  April,  1888. 

George  W.  Wells  came  from  the  Primitive  Methodist 
Conference  to  ours,  in  1867.  From  that  time  on,  until 
prostrated  by  disease,  he  was  one  of  our  most  useful  minis- 
ters. He  was  skilled  in  many  w-ays — as  a  Church  finan- 
cier, as  a  pastor,  as  a  preacher,  and  as  a  presiding  elder. 
Everywhere  he  not  only  commanded  respect,  but  became 
greatly  endeared  to  the  people.  He  was  in  charge  of  Osh- 
kosh  District,  and  continued  in  active  work  far  beyond  the 
bounds  of  prudence,  but  was  finally  compelled  to  yield. 
"  He  died*  at  his  home  in  Oshkosh,  after  weeks  of  great 
suffering,  August  23,  1888." 

Jesse  Halstead,  of  whom  so  much  is  said  in  the 
earlier  part  of  thisw^ork — one  of  our  distinguished  pioneers — 
''  was  gathered  to  his  fathers  from  his  home  in  Rockford, 
Illinois,  August  24,  1888."  His  abundant  labors  in  tlie 
wilds  of  Wisconsin  began  in   1837.     Toils  and  joys,  con- 


318  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

flict    and    victory,    attended    him.     He    "rests    from   his 
labors,  and  his  works  do  follow  him." 

William  Morse,  a  meek,  devout,  earnest  man  of  God, 
passed  to  his  inheritance,  in  Charles  City,  Iowa,  August 
30,  1888.  He  rendered  several  years  of  valuable  service 
in  the  itinerancy,  both  in  New  York  and  in  Wisconsin, 
and  when  obliged  to  retire  from  the  active  ministry  he  was 
useful  in  various  ways.  "At  the  time  of  his  death,"  says 
his  pastor,  "he  was  the  most  respected,  loved,  and  vener- 
ated man  in  Charles  City." 

Delos  Hale  was  received  on  trial  in  1854,  and  per- 
formed a  considerable  amount  of  work  in  the  efiective 
ranks.  Most  of  the  intervening  time,  however,  he  was  on 
the  retired  list.  Yet  he  was  very  useful  there.  He  could 
always  be  relied  upon  to  do  what  he  could.  He  finished 
his  course  September  1,  1888. 

Mrs.  Emma  Pratt,  wife  of  Rev.  G.  W.  Pratt,  passed 
from  earthly  toil  December  5,  1887.  For  twenty -six 
years  she  was  a  faithful  companion  of  her  husband  in  the 
itinerant  field,  and  died  with  "an  intense  longing  to  de- 
part and  be  with  Christ." 

Julia  May  Sherwin,  wife  of  Rev.  F.  B.  Sherwin, 
completes  the  mortuary  list  of  this  year.  She  Avas  an  in- 
telligent, devoted  young  woman.  During  five  years  of 
earnest  work  with  her  husband  in  the  itinerancy  she  gave 
promise  of  great  usefulness  in  the  future.  Her  suflferings 
for  eleven  weeks,  with  spinal  fever,  were  very  severe. 
"Read  me  about  the  mansions,"  she  said  ;  and  soon,  on  the 
25th  of  February,  1888,  she  was  permitted,  we  doubt  not, 
to  enter  one  of  them. 

As  Rev.  M.  Himebaugh  was  just  entering  the  fiftieth 
year  of  his  itinerant  ministry,  the  Conference  by  vote  asked 
him  to  preach  his  semi-centennial  sermon  at  the  next  Con- 
ference. 

There  was  a  general  advance  this  year  also  in  our  work, 


ANNALS  OF  IS 89.  319 

though  but  a  small  increase  in  church  edifices.  The 
Division  Street  Church,  at  Fond  du  Lac,  purchased  a  very 
fine  parsonage. 

For  several  years  our  work  had  been  extending  into 
the  newer  portions  of  the  State,  and  church  edifices  had 
correspondingly  increased  in  those  places.  Some  of  these 
will  become  centers  of  considerable  importance. 

1889. 

In  1867  our  Conference  met  in  a  small  church  in  the 
city  of  Beaver  Dam.  Reference  is  made  in  the  annals  of 
that  year  to  the  project  of  erecting  a  church  edifice.  But 
the  desired  object  was  not  accomplished  until  1871,  in  the 
pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  A.  Reed.  By  wise  and  persistent 
effort  he  led  his  people  to  believe  that  the  "time  had 
come  to  build  the  house  of  the  Lord,"  and  in  spite  of  many 
discouraging  circumstances  they  entered  upon  the  work, 
and  carried  it  to  successful  completion.  It  is  a  brick  edifice, 
well  equipped  with  lecture  and  class-rooms.  It  cost  $10,000, 
and  will  seat  three  hundred.  In  this  edifice  the  Confer- 
ence commenced  its  forty-third  session  on  the  25th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1889,  with  Bishop  J.  P.  Newman  as  president. 

In  May,  1888,  Dr.  Newman  was  elected,  with  four 
others,  to  the  episcopacy.  Few  if  any  of  our  bishops  were 
as  extensively  known  previous  to  their  election  as  he,  and 
perhaps  none  possessed  more  extended  and  varied  scholar- 
ship. At  the  great  secession  in  1844,  many  of  our  mem- 
bers were  compelled,  by  force  of  circumstances,  to  go  into 
the  Church  South.  After  the  Rebellion  ceased,  Dr.  New- 
man was  sent  South  to  look  after  such  as  desired  to  be 
recognized  as  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
there ;  and  he  reorganized  it  in  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  and 
Texas.  He  also  acted  an  important  part  in  founding  an 
orphan  asylum,  the  New  Orleans  University,  and  the  South- 
westeni  Christicm  Advocate.     He  subsequently  served  three 


320  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

terms  of  three  years  each  as  pastor  of  the  Metropolitan 
Church,  D.  C,  and  was  thrice  elected  chaplain  of  the  United 
States  Senate.  He  is  the  author  of  several  works  of  merit, 
the  one  entitled  "Thrones  of  Nineveh  and  Babylon" 
securing  him  membership  in  the  Biblical  Archaeological 
Society  of  London. 

The  organization  of  the  Conference  was  completed  by 
the  election  of  the  following  officers,  viz.:  Secretary — John 
Schneider,  with  Perry  Millar  and  T.  W.  North  as  assistants. 
Statistical  Secretary — W.  J.  Fisher,  with  E.  Duckworth 
and  W.  B.  Robinson  as  assistants.  Treasurer — J.  L. 
Hewitt,  with  S.  JollifF  and  B.  F.  Sanford  as  assistants. 

Three  ministers,  and  the  wife  of  another,  had  fallen  by 
death  during  the  Conference  year. 

Henry  Orcutt  was  the  first  to  meet  the  Master's  call 
to  a  higher  seat.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  our  Confer- 
ence in  1854,  and  did  good  work  till  the  session  of  1870, 
when  he  was  returned  superannuated.  "  He  was  a  man  of 
sweet  spirit  and  spotless  life — a  faithful  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ " — "  an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  was  no  guile."  He 
was  a  model  of  meekness,  unless  his  meekness  induced  too 
low  an  estimate  of  himself.  He  closed  his  earthly  pilgrim- 
age, November  15,  1888,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of 
his  age. 

John  W.  Fridd  was  received  as  a  member  in  full  con- 
nection' from  another  branch  of  the  Methodist  Church  in 
1871,  and  performed  effective  work  for  four  years,  when  he 
was  placed  on  the  list  of  supernumeraries.  In  this  relation 
he  continued  until  released  by  death,  November  27,  1888. 
"  During  his  retirement  from  the  active  ministry  he  ren- 
dered much  valuable  service  to  the  Church." 

Joseph  H.  Jenne  followed  these  fallen  heroes,  on  the 
21st  of  January,  1889,  in  the  eighty-third  year  of  his  age. 
He  was  a  man  of  unusual  native  powers,  well  disciplined 
by  close  thought  and  careful  reading.     He  was  a  native  of 


ANNALS  OF  ISSO.  321 

Maine,  in  which  State  he  performed  twenty-five  years  of 
ministerial  labor,  being  presiding  elder  on  Bangor  and  Port- 
land Districts  respectively,  and  once  a  delegate  to  the  Gen- 
eral Conference.  In  1856  he  came  to  Wisconsin,  and  in 
connection  with  our  Conference  continued  about  twenty- 
three  years  longer  in  the  effective  ranks — one  as  agent  of 
Lawrence  University,  and  eight  as  presiding  elder  of  Ap- 
pleton  and  Janesville  Districts.  For  about  ten  years  he 
was  superannuated,  awaiting  the  Master's  call. 

Mrs.  Naxcy  Hough  Wills,  wife  of  Rev.  John  Wills, 
passed  to  her  rest,  after  a  brief  illness,  on  the  30th  of 
April,  1889,  in  the  thirty-third  year  of  her  age.  She 
was  an  estimable  lady,  an  earnest  Christian,  and  a  very 
helpful  wife  for  a  minister.  She  died  as  she  lived  in 
joyful   expectation   of  the  "inheritance   of  the   saints   in 

light." 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Conference  of  1888,  Henry 
Faville  withdrew  from  the  ministry  and  membership  of 
our  Church.  He  graduated  from  Lawrence  University  in 
1871,  and  subsequently  from  the  Boston  School  of  The- 
ology. In  1876  he  entered  the  itinerant  ranks  of  our  Con- 
ference, and  for  twelve  years  did  effective  service,  constantly 
rising  in  the  esteem  of  all  among  whom  he  labored.  An 
unhappy  combination  of  circumstances  induced  him  to 
change  his  ecclesiastical  relations.  He  went  from  us  with  the 
confidence  and  good-will  of  all  his  brethren,  though  some 
of  us  believed  he  did  not  act  w^isely  in  so  doing.  He  is 
now  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  La  Crosse. 

Five  were  transferred  to  other  Conferences,  viz.:  D.  J. 
Whiting,  B.  P.  Raymond,  J.  C.  Jackson,  M.  T.  C.  Seeley, 
and  F.  S.  Stein.  While  it  may  be  said  of  all,  ivell  done, 
two  or  three  deserve  special  notice. 

F.  S.  Stein  came  to  us  by  transfer,  in  1877,  and  filled 
successfully  several  of  our  best  appointments. 

J.  C.  Jackson,  also  transferred  to  us  in  1886,  had 
27 


322  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

proved  liiniself,  in   a  pastorate  at  Appleton  of  two  and  a 
half  years,  a  man  of  unusual  pulpit  ability. 

Bradford  P.  Raymond  graduated  from  our  university 
in  1870,  and  from  the  Boston  School  of  Theology  in  1873. 
He  then  entered  the  itinerant  ministry  in  New  England, 
where  he  performed  several  years  of  successful  pastoral 
work,  and  in  1883  was  elected  president  of  Lawrence  Uni- 
versity. In  the  meantime  he  Avent  to  Germany,  studied 
at  Leipsic  and  Gottingen,  whence  he  received  the  degree 
of  Ph.  D.,  in  1881.  During  the  six  years  of  his  presi- 
dency of  Lawrence,  he  constantly  rose  in  favor  with  all 
connected  with  the  institution,  and  commanded  universal 
respect  throughout  the  State.  He  was  this  year  trans- 
ferred to  New  York  East  Conference,  having  been  elected 
to  the  presidency  of  the  Wesleyan  University,  at  Middle- 
town,  Connecticut,  the  oldest  and  most  honored  institution 
of  its  grade  in  American  Methodism. 

In  parting  with  Curtiss  and  Raymond,  we  have  the 
compensating  thought  that  we  of  the  West  have  paid  the 
East  a  large  share  of  the  debt  we  owed  them.  Still,  it 
seems  hardly  fair  that  so  large  a  draft  should  be  made  on 
Lawrence,  unless  it  be  that  we  could  furnish  the  best 
material. 

For  several  years  the  importance  of  providing  more 
amply  for  our  superannuated  preachers  had  engaged  the 
attention  of  the  Conference.  This  year  a  new  plan  was 
proposed  by  Major  E.  L.  Paine,  a  prominent  layman  of 
Oshkosh,  which  received  favorable  consideration.  It  is  in 
substance  this :  That  each  member  of  the  Church  should  be 
induced,  if  possible,  to  pay  two  cents  per  week,  and  each 
Sunday-school  scholar  two  cents  per  month  for  this  purpose, 
one-half  of  the  amount  thus  raised  to  be  used  to  supple- 
ment the  annual  income  from  other  sources  for  this  pur- 
pose, the  other  half  to  be  funded,  the  interest  only  to  be 
used  annually.     In  this   way,  if  all  could  be  induced  to 


ANNALS  OF  ISSO.  323 

follow  out  the  plan,  the  sum  of  820,264  could  be  raised 
every  year,  which  would  give  $10,132  directly  to  Con- 
ference claimants,  and  the  same  to  the  permanent  fund. 
This  surely  is  a  magnificent  scheme,  and  who  dares  to  say, 
"  It  can  not  be  done?" 

Considerable  advance  was  made  during  the  year  in 
building  and  improving  church  property.  By  far  the  best 
edifice  erected  was  in  Bay  View,  Milwaukee.  It  is  now 
known  as  Trinity  Church.  It  is  a  massive  brick  edifice, 
standing  on  the  corner  of  two  important  avenues,  Kinnick- 
hmick  and  Clement.  'The  auditorium  is  70x50  feet,  the 
lecture-room,  70x30  feet,  two  parlors,  16x20  and  20x20  feet 
respectively,  with  a  dining-room  and  kitchen  below  the  three 
last  mentioned,  the  former  being  in  size  70x30  feet,  and 
the  latter  16x20.  The  audience-room  wnll  seat  500,  and 
the  entire  structure  cost  but  $23,000.  AVhere  is  its  equal 
for  all  kinds  of  Church  work  at  so  small  a  cost  ? 

Our  people  in  Waupun  had  commenced  a  much-needed 
church  edifice  to  take  the  place  of  the  one  they  had  occupied 
for  many  years.  Its  size  is  70x54  feet  in  extreme;  the 
auditorium,  60x30  feet,  with  5-feet  transepts  on  the  sides, 
so  nearly  60x40  feet.  It  will  seat  nearly  300.  It  will 
contain  a  good  lecture-room,  two  class-rooms,  and  a  kitchen, 
thus  well  equipped  for  all  kinds  of  good  work.  It  is  a 
wooden  structure,  with  cathedral-glass  windows,  and  is 
really  a  fine  edifice.* 

Mrs.  Ann  E.  Scott,  of  Merrill,  formerly  of  Grand 
Kapids,  recently  deceased,  left  a  bequest  to  the  former 
place  of  $13,300,  to  the  latter  of  $4,000,  to  be  used  in 
improving  the  church  property  in  those  places.  In  the 
church  at  Grand  Kapids  a  memorial  window  of  her  de- 
parted parents  is  to  be  placed.  Mrs.  Scott  had  been  much 
devoted  to  the  interests  of  our   Church  for   many  years, 


It  was  dedicated  May  4,  1890. 


32^  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE, 

and,  like  David,  she  had  the  Lord's  house  in  her  heart  to 
the  last. 

During  the  three  years'  pastorate  of  E.  R.  Hay  ward, 
which  closes  this  year,  the  Church  at  Menasha  has  been 
greatly  improved,  both  in  its  membership  and  in  its  house 
of  worship.  The  latter  has  been  extensively  repaired.  It 
is  now  valued  at  $6,000. 

On  December  27-30,  1888,  our  Church  in  Beh)it  cele- 
brated its  jubilee,  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  its  existence.  It 
was  a  very  interesting  and  profitable  occasion.  The  Con- 
gregationalists  there  celebrated  theirs  three  days  later, 
being  so  much  younger.  In  these  jubilees  there  was  much 
very  fraternal  and  pleasant  interchange. 

The  routine  work  of  the  Conference  this  year  was  very 
much  as  usual,  and  the  general  plan  for  the  ensuing  year 
diflfered  little  from  the  last. 

Two  changes  were  made  in  the  district  incumbents. 
W.  W.  Painter  succeeded  J.  R.  Creighton  on  the  Fond 
du  Lac  District,  and  J.  L.  Hewitt,  S.  Halsey  on  the  Mil- 
waukee. 

The  record  of  this  Conference  must  not  be  closed  with- 
out grateful  mention  of  the  unusual  religious  influence 
that  generally  prevailed.  This  was  due  largely  to  the 
early  morning  prayer-meetings,  and  the  half-hour  talks  of 
Bishop  Newman,  which  were  full  of  mental  and  spiritual 
aliment. 


RE  TR  OS  PEC  TIVE.  825 


RETROSPECTIVE. 

WITH  the  forty-third  session  of  th^  Wisconsin  Confer- 
ence, this  history  closes;    yet   not   without  a    few 
words  by  way  of  retrospection. 

In  reviewing  the  ground  passed  over,  nothing,  perhaps, 
is  more  apparent  than  the  adaptation  of  our  itinerant  sys- 
tem to  real  evangelism.  It  does  not  wait  for  a  call  from  a 
Church  council,  but,  anticipating  the  needs  of  the  people, 
it  sends  the  heralds  of  salvation  to  them  with  the  Word 
of  Life. 

The  moral  heroism — the  unselfish  devotion  of  these  men 
to  the  work — is  also  very  apparent.  We  see  them  start 
out  for  a  year's  toil  without  the  promise  of  a  dollar,  either 
from  a  missionary  society  behind  them,  or  the  people  be- 
fore them.  Indeed,  in  some  instances  the  people  were  as 
ignorant  of  their  coming  as  they  were  of  the  country  they 
were  about  to  explore.  Thus  multitudes  heard  the  ''good 
tidings  of  great  joy  "  that  probably  would  not  have  been 
reached  by  any  other  system  for  years. 

Nor  is  the  effectiveness  of  this  system  seen  only  in  pio- 
neering. With  scarcely  an  exception  it  supplies  every 
Church  with  a  pastor,  and  every  itinerant  minister,  in 
health,  with  a  pastoral  charge,  from  the  beginning  to  the 
end  of  the  year.  And  when  vacancies  occur,  by  death  or 
otherwise,  it  can  usually  fill  them  with  very  little  delay. 

The  reader  must  have  been  impressed  with  the  fearless 
and  advanced  position  of  the  Conference  on  all  questions  of 
moral  reform.  Neither  the  anti-slavery  nor  the  temperance 
contest  found  the  Conference  at  any  time  "  fearful  or  faint- 


826  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

hearted."  Though  a  few  were  hesitant  for  a  time  relative 
to  the  former,  the  body  of  the  Conference  were  from  the 
first  uncompromising  in  antagonizing  the  system  and  spirit 
of  slavery  in  every  form  and  everywhere.  Nor  has  it 
been  less  erect  in  its  opposition  to  the  liquor-traffic.  It 
stands  unequivocally  committed  to  its  legal  prohibition,  as 
does  the  entire  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  though  as  yet 
it  has  not  deemed  it  a  duty  to  declare  for  separate  political 
action.  But  this  will  probably  come  by  the  "  logic  of 
events." 

Nor  was  the  Conference  wanting  either  in  loyalty  or 
patriotism  in  the  Nation's  contest  with  treason.  Its  utter- 
ances were  fearless,  and  its  practical  response  to  the  demand 
for  help  demonstrated  its  sincerity. 

More  than  half  a  score  of  our  ministers  volunteered 
their  services  in  some  form  to  aid  in  quelling  the  Rebellion. 

We  have  also  made  a  creditable  record  in  the  cause  of 
education.  If  some  premature  efforts  were  made,  they  in- 
dicated our  zeal  in  this  direction,  and  it  should  not  be  con- 
sidered as  much  of  a  reproach  to  fail  in  an  honest,  earnest 
effort  to  do  a  good  thing  as  indifference  and  inactivity. 

The  missionary  spirit  has  been  cherished  in  every  pe- 
riod of  our  Conference  existence.  In  an  early  day  some 
of  our  ministers  were  almost  self-sustained  missionaries. 
Later  we  gave  our  money  and  our  men  to  the  missionary 
work  at  home  and  abroad.  Nearly  every  mission-field 
under  the  care  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  been 
re-enforced  by  the  Wisconsin  Conference. 

We  have  made  changes  in  methods  of  work,  but  have 
never  felt  the  need  of  trying  to  improve  or  in  any  way 
modify  our  doctrines.  While  one  highly  respected  denom- 
ination has  formulated  a  "new  creed,"  and  another  is  in 
an  earnest  effort  to  do  the  same,  we  preach,  print,  and 
sing  the  same  doctrines  that  our  fathers  did  a  hundred 
years   ago,  and  find  them   effective  in  leading  sinners  to 


RETROSPECTIVE.  327 

repentance,  and  then  in  edifying  them  in  righteousness. 
Meanwhile,  we  rejoice  to  see  the  Protestant  world  moving 
toward  those  standards  of  faith  which  have  distinguished 
us  from  the  beginning. 

But  methods  of  work  are,  and  always  have  been,  sub- 
ject to  variation.  The  genius  of  Method-ism  is  to  utilize 
every  proper  method,  new  or  old,  that  promises  to  advance 
the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  Hence  we  encourage  young 
people's  societies  that  are  vitalized  with  tlie  spirit  of  Christ. 
These  are  increasing  among  us  ;  and  if  they  continue  to 
glow  with  celestial  fire,  as  they  seem  to  now,  they  will  be- 
come a  mighty  agency  for  good.  If  they  fail  at  this  point, 
they  will  be  a  snare. 

In  the  natural  working  of  our  itinerant  system,  through 
more  than  half  a  century,  some  will  almost  unavoidably  be 
subjected  to  what  may  appear  unfair  treatment.  A  com- 
bination of  circumstances  may  necessitate  such  a  result, 
while  all  concerned  would  fain  have  it  otherwise.  It  is 
not  strange  that  this  sometimes  leads  to  a  change  of  eccle- 
siastical relations ;  but  it  should  be  remembered  that  no 
system  of  ministerial  appointment  or  employment  is  free 
from  objections.  We  have  received  quite  as  many  to  our 
ranks  from  the  ministry  of  other  Churches  as  have  gone 
from  us.  And  if  all  are  at  their  greatest  point  of  power, 
it  is  well.  Let  the  "  watchmen  see  eye  to  eye,"  and  lift 
up  their  voices  together  to  avert  the  common  danger, 
though  at  different  points  on  the  walls  of  Zion. 

While  we  may  see  many  causes  for  regret  in  looking 
through  the  labors  of  the  past,  we  surely  can  see  much  to 
awaken  gratitude. 

In  1832  there  were  a  few  widely  scattered  settlements 
of  white  people  in  the  present  domain  of  Wisconsin.  That 
year  our  work  was  begun  here  in  a  small  way.  Now  we 
have  in  this  State  32,851  communicants,  of  wh;ch  341  are 
ministers;    502    Sabbath-schools,    with    38,849    scholars; 


328  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

461  church  edifices,  and  219  parsonages,  all  valued  at 
^1,694,829. 

How  many  have  passed  on  to  a  better  inheritance,  the 
Book  of  Life  only  can  reveal. 

Confining  our  observations  to  Wisconsin  Conference,  we 
find,  in  its  germinal  and  developed  condition,  the  names  of 
seven  hundred  and  sixty-eight  in  the  lists  of  appointments 
through  these  years. 

During  the  first  fifteen  years  not  a  death  occurred  in  our 
ministerial  ranks.  This  was  very  remarkable,  even  though 
our  number  was  then  small.  The  first  one  departed  October 
22,  1847.  Up  to  the  present  time  sixty-three  have  gone  to 
their  "  long  home,"  forty-five  of  whom  had  previously  passed 
to  superannuation. 

In  concluding  these  Annals,  the  question  presses  upon 
the  writer,  will  these  pages  accomplish  the  purposes  in- 
tended? The  mere  collation  and  preservation  of  historic 
incidents  are  matters  of  minor  importance.  If  the  fact  that 
a  faithful  sowing  of  '*  the  word  of  God  "  will  be  followed  by 
the  fruits  of  righteousness,  has  not  been  so  impressed  as  to 
secure  continued  and  even  greater  activity  and  more  glorious 
results  in  the  years  to  come,  his  highest  aim  will  not  be  met. 
This  book,  therefore,  goes  forth  with  the  earnest  prayer  that 
the  Great  Head  of  the  Church  may  enable  those  in  the 
active  work  to  leave  it  to  their  successors  with  an  improve- 
ment commensurate  with  the  vantage-ground  bequeathed 
them. 


Rev.  JAMES   LAWSOX. 


Part  III. 

BY   REV.  JA.1VIES   LAWSON. 


HISTORY 

OF 

WEST    WISCONSIN    AND    NORTHWEST 
WISCONSIN  CONFERENCES. 


CHAPTER  I. 


HISTORY    OF  METHODISM    IN   SOUTHWEST   WISCONSIN    PRIOR 

TO  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF   THE  WEST  WISCONSIN 

CONFERENCE  IN  1856. 

THE  reader  is  referred  to  the  pages  in  this  volume 
prepared  by  Rev.  P.  S.  Bennett  for  much  valuable 
information  of  early  Methodism  in  this  part  of  the  State. 
We  shall  only  add  in  this  chapter  a  few  brief  notes  in  ad- 
dition to  what  he  has  so  well  written  and  recorded. 

The  territory  now  embraced  in  the  West  Wisconsin 
Conference  as  early  as  1828  was  attached  to  the  Illinois 
Conference,  where  it  remained  until  1840,  when  it  became 
a  part  of  the  Rock  River  Conference.  In  1848  it  was 
taken  out  of  that  Conference,  and  the  Wisconsin  Confer- 
ence was  organized.  In  1849  there  were  the  following 
charges  in  this  territory:  Adams  (Baraboo),  Bad  Axe  and 
Black  River,  Exeter,  Elk  Grove,  Franklin  (Highland), 
Dodgeville  and  Linden,  Hamilton  Grove  (Wiota),  Hazel 


330      METHODISM  IN  SOUTHWEST  WISCONSIN. 

Green,  Lancaster,  Lodi,  Madison,  Monroe,  Mineral  Point, 
Platteville  District,  Platteville,  Potosi,  Patch  Grove,  Prairie 
du  Chien,  Prairie  du  Sac,  Wyoming  Valley,  and  Welsh 
Circuit.  In  1850  it  contained  23  pastoral  charges,  20 
itinerant  ministers,  2,119  members,  9  parsonages,  and  13 
church  edifices. 

The  West  Wisconsin  Conference  was  organized  by  the 
General  Conference  of  1856.  The  whole  of  Wisconsin,  as 
well  as  Minnesota,  had  been  for  eight  years  prior  to  this  in 
the  Wisconsin  Conference.  This  Conference  had  become 
somewhat  unwieldy,  there  being  over  two  hundred  mem- 
bers in  it.  To  attend  Conference  the  preachers  had  to 
travel,  on  an  average,  over  two  hundred  miles  to  and  from 
the  seat  of  Conference,  thereby  incurring  a  heavy  expense, 
as  well  as  a  loss  of  valuable  time.  There  existed  at  that 
time  little  railroad  facilities,  so  most  of  the  traveling  had 
to  be  done  on  horseback,  in  a  buggy,  or  in  the  old-fashioned 
stage. 

The  largeness  of  the  numbers  attending  Conference  also 
made  it  quite  difficult  to  entertain  it,  and  it  became  some- 
what of  a  burden  upon  the  people.  Very  wisely,  therefore, 
the  territory  was  divided  into  three  Conferences — the  Wis- 
consin, West  Wisconsin,  and  Minnesota. 

In  this  division  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference  received 
comparatively  a  small  territory.  The  boundaries  are  thus 
described  in  the  Discipline  of  1856  :  "  The  West  Wisconsin 
Conference  shall  include  that  part  of  the  State  of  Wisconsin 
which  lies  south  and  east  of  the  Minnesota  Conference,  and 
west  of  a  line  beginning  on  the  north  line  of  the  State  of 
Illinois,  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Green  County,  and  run- 
ning north  on  the  Range  line  of  the  north  line  of  Town 
Twenty  (20),  thence  west  to  the  fourth  principal  meridian, 
and  thence  north  on  said  meridian  to  the  line  of  the  Min- 
nesota Conference,  w^ith  the  addition  of  that  portion  of 
Spring  Grove  Circuit,  which  lies  in  the  State  of  Illinois." 


PRIOR  TO  IS 56.  331 

From  these  boundaries  it  appears  that,  of  the  State  of  Wis- 
consin, twenty-seven  counties  were  assigned  to  the  Wiscon- 
sin Conference,  and  among  these  were  several  counties  most 
heavily  populated. 

To  Minnesota  Conference  was  given  a  vast  territory  in 
the  northwest  portion  of  the  State,  and  to  West  Wisconsin 
Conference  only  fourteen  counties  in  the  extreme  southwest 
corner  of  the  State. 

On  the  territory  in  Wisconsin  set  off  from  the  Wisconsin 
Conference  in  1856,  there  were  sixty-eight  pastoral  charges, 
most  of  which  were  placed  in  the  West  Wisconsin  and 
the  remainder  in  the  Minnesota  Conference.  We  give  the 
names  of  the  districts,  charges,  and  missions  which  fell  into 
the  West  Wisconsin  Conference,  as  follows:  Portage  Dis- 
trict, Portage  City,  Oxford,  Roche-a-Cri,  Winnebago  Mis- 
sion, Point  Bluff  Mission,  Baraboo,  Reedsburg,  Delton, 
Lemonweir  Mission,  Jackson,  Madison  District,  Madison, 
Madison  Circuit,  Monticello  Mission,  Monroe,  Spring  Grove, 
Bellville  Mission,  Blue  Mounds  Mission,  Black  Earth, 
Lodi,  Poynetta,  Wyoming  Mission,  Prairie  du  Sac,  Platte- 
ville  District,  Platteville,  Potosi,  Jamestown  Mission,  Platte 
Mission,  Elk  Grove,  Hazel  Green,  Fayette,  Wiota,  Shulls- 
burg,  Mineral  Point,  Dodgeville  and  Linden,  Welsh  Mis- 
sion, Montfort,  Prairie  du  Chien  District,  Prairie  du  Chien, 
Eastman  Mission,  Orion,  Richland  Center,  Richland  City, 
Muscoda,  Marion,  Fennimore,  Patch  Grove,  Beetown,  Lan- 
caster, La  Crosse  Mission  District,  La  Crosse  Mission,  On- 
alaska,  Mendora,  Black  River  Falls  Mission,  Robinson's 
Creek,  Sparta  Mission,  Norwegian  Mission,  Viroqua,  Bad 
Axe  Mission,  and  La  Crosse  Valley  Mission — 61  pastoral 
charges. 

Those  charges  which  fell  into  the  Minnesota  Conference 
were:  Kansas  Mission  (Pepin),  Chippewa  Falls  Mission, 
Montoville  Mission,  Osceola  Mission,  Hudson  Mission, 
Prescott  Mission,  and  Lake   Superior  Mission — 7  pastoral 


332     METHODISM  IN  SOUTHWEST  WISCONSIN. 

charges.  By  consulting  Appendix  E,  it  can  readily  be  seen 
at  what  time  previously  these  charges  first  appeared  on  the 
list  of  appointments,  and  thus  a  general  idea  of  the  be- 
ginnings of  each  charge  in  different  localities  may  be  ob- 
tained. 

Casting  our  eye  over  the  names  of  those  who  filled  the 
above  appointments  at  that  time,  we  are  impressed  with  the 
rapidity  in  which  changes  take  place  in  an  Annual  Confer- 
ence. Only  three,  Brothers  Sims,  Delap,  and  Lawson,  are 
now  eflfective ;  a  very  few  of  the  number  are  on  the  retired 
list ;  but  Brothers  Stanbury,  Searls,  Summersides,  Wilcox, 
Brunson,  Weirich,  Bean,  and  Pryor,  with  several  others, 
have  gone  from  labor  to  reward. 

As  stated  in  the  earlier  pages  of  this  volume,  there  were 
occasional  services  as  early  as  1828  among  the  miners  of 
Southwest  Wisconsin. 

J.  T.  Mitchell  was  one  of  the  early  preachers  in  the 
''lead-mines."  The  following  incident  of  one  of  his  visits 
to  Mineral  Point  was  given  the  writer  by  one  of  the  old 
residents,  who  was  an  eye-witness  of  the  occurrence:  "In 
1833,  Mr.  Mitchell  preached  in  Mineral  Point,  holding  his 
service  part  of  the  time  in  a  building  used  for  the  deposit 
of  arms  during  the  Black  Hawk  War ;  also  in  Nichol's  tav- 
ern. Seats  being  scarce,  many  brought  something  with 
them  to  the  service  to  sit  upon.  Among  the  number  an 
Irishman,  by  the  name  of  Jimmie  Scanlin,  came  to  hear, 
Mitchell  preach,  bringing  with  him  a  block  of  wood  on 
which  he  sat.  Mr.  Mitchell  that  day  preached  a  sermon 
in  which  he  dwelt  largely  and  feelingly  on  the  work  of  the 
blessed  Jesus  for  humanity.  Jimmie  appeared  very  atten- 
tive. Just  as  the  preacher  was  winding  up  his  sermon, 
Jimmie  rose  from  his  seat,  and  addressing  the  preacher, 
said  :  "  And,  by  Jasus,  why  don't  you  tell  us  something 
about  the  blessed  Virgin  ?"  Kobert  Dougherty,  a  justice  of 
the  peace,  being  present,  ordered  Jimmie  to  sit  down,  and 


PRIOR  TO  1856.  333 

Mr.  Mitchell  went  ou  and  closed  his  service.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day  (Monday)  Dougherty  summoned  Scanlin  be- 
fore him  to  answer  the  charge  of  disturbing  the  congrega- 
tion, and  fined  him  five  dollars.  Scanlin  paid  the  fine, 
and  demanded  a  receipt  for  his  money,  which  was  given 
him,  and  which  Scanlin  preserved  to  his  death. 

In  1846,  Rev.  R.  Haney  was  sent  as  preacher  to  Mineral 
Point.  He  taught  school  during  the  week,  and  served  them 
as  preacher  on  the  Sabbath.  While  there  he  organized  at 
Pedlar's  Creek  (Linden),  the  first  class,  in  a  miner's  cabin, 
consisting  of  three  young  men — William  Webster,  class- 
leader,  with  William  Bowden  and  John  Pryor  as  members. 

In  1839,  John  Hodges,  who  is  still  living  and  a  super- 
annuate member  of  the  Rock  River  Conference,  was  sent, 
along  with  John  Crummer,  as  preacher  on  Mineral  Point 
Circuit.  One  of  their  numerous  appointments  was  Blue 
Mounds,  nearly  forty  miles  distant.  In  a  recent  commu- 
nication from  Brother  Hodges,  written  in  a  most  remark- 
ably neat  hand,  he  says:  "At  Mineral  Point  we  were 
blessed  with  a  large  class  of  English  Methodists  from  the 
mines  of  Cornwall,  very  industrious  in  business,  and  fer- 
vent in  spirit — strong  men  and  women  in  faith  and  prayer, 
always  eager  for  the  word  of  life  from  the  pulpit,  worthy 
followers  of  the  Wesleys,  of  Fletcher,  and  Bramwell,  of 
former  days ;  would  to  God  our  people  everywhere  were  as 
exemplary  as  they!"  In  1841,  Mineral  Point  Circuit  em- 
braced the-  villages  of  Dodgeville,  Pedlar's  Creek,  Willow 
Springs,  Fayette,  Wiota,  Wolf  Creek,  Garrison's,  and 
several  other-preaching  places.  In  1841  a  rock  church 
was  built,  which  continued  in  use  until  the  present  beauti- 
ful Gothic  church  was  erected  in  1868,  which  is  returned 
in  the  yearly  valuation  as  worth  $16,500,  but  doubtless 
cost  a  much  larger  sum.  Mineral  Point  Methodism  in 
1848  experienced  a  severe  trial  in  the  separation  of  fully 
one-half   of   its    membership   by  the  organization    of   the 


334      METHODISM  IN  SOUTHWEST  WJSCONSIN. 

Primitive  Methodist  Church ;  but  there  remained  true  to 
the  old  Church  such  men  as  Brothers  Curry,  Priestly, 
Phillips,  Ogders,  Rule,  and  a  few  others,  who  stood  man- 
fully by  the  old  ship.  She  weathered  the  storm,  and  it  is 
worthy  of  note  that  from  that  time  to  the  present  they 
have  never  failed  to  pay  their  preacher  all  his  salary. 

This  section  of  the  State  has  not  only  been  blessed  with 
a  spiritual  and  earnest  membership,  but  has  witnessed 
many  powerful  revivals.  It  has  always  been  at  the  front 
in  benevolent  collections,  and  in  the  lead  for  missions.  In 
these  they  have  been  actuated  by  principle  rather  than  by 
impulse. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Samuel  Basye  for  some  valua- 
ble notes  in  regard  to  early  Methodism  in  parts  of  Grant 
County. 

Rev.  A.  Brunson,  as  early  as  1835-6,  frequently 
preached  in  log-cabins  to  the  north  of  Platteville.  He 
organized  the  first  class  north  of  Platteville,  in  the  town  of 
Clifton,  during  this  year.  There  were  belonging  to  that 
class,  James  T.  Brown  (class-leader),  Elizabeth  Brown, 
Bosmon  and  Sarah  Clifton,  J.  S.  and  John  Kirkpatrick, 
Isaac  M.  Reynolds,  J.  J.  Basye  (a  local  preacher),  Anna, 
his  wife,  and  a  few  others.  One  of  these  log  cabins  is 
still  standing,  and  owned  by  James  C.  Kirkpatrick. 

Many  incidents  of  interest  might  be  mentioned  of  these 
early  times,  but  our  space  will  only  admit  of  one.  Meet- 
ings of  a  protracted  character  were  being  held  by  Rev.  J. 
L.  Dyer,  the  pioneer  preacher,  at  the  house  of  Bosmon 
Clifton,  when  John  Livingston  was  persuaded  by  his 
mining  comrades  to  attend.  As  he  approached  the  thresh- 
old of  the  cabin  he  heard  Brother  Dyer  read  these  words 
as  his  text :  '*  Pay  thy  vows  unto  the  Most  High."  Con- 
viction seized  him,  and  he  said,  before  he  got  into  the 
room,  "That  means  me."  He  was  soon  after  converted, 
and  became  a  faithful  Christian. 


PRIOR  TO  1S56.  335 

The  first  nieution  of  the  city  of  Madison  as  an  appoint- 
ment was  in  1837,  when  it  was  "  left  to  be  supplied,"  and 
was  attached  to  the  Mihvaukee  District,  with  Rev.  Salmon 
Stebbins  as  presiding  elder.  The  impressions  made  by  Mr. 
Stebbins  in  his  sermons  were  wonderful.  One  who  heard 
him  preach  during  this  year  says:  "The  sermon  was  the 
sublimest  exhibition  of  human  effort  I  ever  witnessed." 

Mr.  A,  A.  Bird,  in  an  address  delivered  at  an  old 
settlers'  meeting,  says:  "The  first  sermon  delivered  in 
Madison  was  by  Mr.  Salmon  Stebbins,  a  Methodist  clergy- 
man, in  the  month  of  September,  1837.  There  were  but 
four  families  then  in  the  place,  and  about  thirty-six  work- 
men on  the  capitol  building. 

In  the  spring  of  1838,  Rev.  Sam.  Pillsbury  was  sent  to 
Aztalan  Circuit,  with  Madison  as  one  of  the  appointments. 
On  one  occasion  he  remained  a  whole  week  in  the  family 
of  A.  A.  Bird,  the  young  girls  of  the  fanlily  keeping  a 
record  of  the  morning  and  evening  prayers  by  a  chalk- 
mark  upon  the  wall.  Mr.  Pillsbury  opened  by  prayer  the 
first  session  of  the  Territorial  Council  held  in  the  unfinished 
State-house. 

In  the  fall  of  1838  Rev.  John  Hodges  was  appointed 
to  Madison,  Fort  Winnebago,  and  Honey  Creek  Mission, 
with  Revs.  Pillsbury  and  Flanders.  In  a  recent  communi- 
cation he  says:  "  AVe  had  a  six  weeks'  circuit  of  five 
hundred  miles  for  each  of  us.  Our  appointments  were 
principally  in  log  cabins,  twenty-five  or  thirty  in  number, 
with  here  and  there  a  log  school-house.  The  meetings  at 
Madison  w^ere  held  in  the  stone  capitol.  At  my  first 
appointment  there,  I  was  happy  to  find  my  good  presiding 
elder,  Rev.  Salmon  Stebbins,  Justin  from  Green  Bay.  At 
my  request  he  preached  for  me,  and  formed  the  first  class 
of  eight  or  ten  members.  The  outskirts  of  the  charge 
were  Johnson's  Rapids  on  the  north,  Mr.  Janes's  solitary 
cabin    on   the   south,    where    the    city  of  Janesville   now 


336.      METHODISM  IN  SOUTHWEST  WISCONSIN. 

stands,  and  a  small  village  on  the  east,  eight  or  ten  miles 
west  of  Milwaukee,  embracing  Geneva,  East  and  West 
Troy,  Kound  Prairie,  Aztalan,  and  other  points. 

The  first  class  was  organized  at  Monticello  in  1848,  by 
Kev.  Boyd  Phelps,  who  was  supplying  Exeter  Mission. 
His  residence  was  at  the  "  Grove,"  the  present  site  of 
Evansville.  Two  members  of  the  first  class  still  live — Mr. 
W.  H.  Coates  and  his  wife. 

The  first  preaching  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Mon- 
roe was  in  the  township  of  Clarno,  at  the  house  of  Elijah 
Austin  and  Enoch  Evans,  in  1835,  by  Daniel  Harcourt, 
who  was  a  local  preacher  from  Indiana.  The  first  class 
was  formed  by  James  McKane,  in  1836,  composed  of 
Matthew  Wells  as  leader,  Sarah  Wells,  Maria  Blunt, 
James  Wells,  and  William  Beard.  The  latter  still  lives, 
to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  many  of  these  items  of  his- 
tory. The  first  church-building  was  erected  in  1849.  The 
site  was  donated  by  Jacob  L.  Brand.  Tn  1858  it  was 
remodeled,  and  was  used  until  1869,  when  the  present 
beautiful  building  was  begun,  which  remained  uncom- 
pleted until  1887.  It  was  completed  by  funds  donated  by 
B.  Chinoweth,  Esq.,  on  condition  that  the  society  build  a 
parsonage  to  cost  the  same  amount  as  needed  to  finish  the 
church.  By  this  means  the  society  now  has  a  beautiful 
parsonage  worth  $4,500,  and  a  church  valued  at  $25,000. 
It  is  well  finished,  and  furnished  with  a  fine  pipe-organ, 
the  gift  of  Mrs.  Fidelia  Pike. 

The  Annual  Conferences  of  1859  (spring  Conference) 
and  1878  were  held  in  this  city,  being  well  sustained  by 
the  citizens. 

In  1845,  Rev.  Rufus  Harvey,  then  stationed  in  the 
city  of  Madison,  seeing  at  the  post-office  of  that  place  some 
Methodist  Church  papers  addressed  to  Rev.  H.  Maynard 
and  the  Bartholomews,  inquired  where  they  could  be 
found.     The  postmaster  told  him  the  direction  to  take  as 


PRIOR  TO  1856.  337 

best  he  could,  aud  the  missionary  started  to  hunt  them  up. 
He  found  them  waiting  for  him  in  the  wikierues^  where 
Lodi  now  stands.  He  immediately  established  there  an 
appointment,  and  organized  a  class,  consisting  of  G.  M. 
Bartholomew  (leader),  Catherine,  M.  C,  Mary,  and 
Christina  Bartholomew,  and  Rev.  Henry  and  Harriet 
Maynard.  Three  of  the  number.  Father  aud  Mother 
Maynard  aud  Catherine  Bartholomew,  still  survive.  They 
then  had  preachiug  once  in  two  weeks  in  the  log  cabin  of 
the  Bartholomews.  In  1855  the  present  church  was  built. 
In   1863  the   Aunual  Conference  was  held  in  this  place. 

In  1856  the  Brodhead  charge  was  organized,  Nathaniel 
Wheeler,  pastor.  In  1858  John  P.  Dickson,  of  Janesville, 
donated  lots  on  which  to  build  a  church  and  parsonage. 
The  church  was  erected  and  dedicated  by  Rev.  Hooper 
Crews.  A  bell  costing  $400  was  donated  by  E.  H.  Brod- 
head, Esq.  During  the  pastoral  term  of  E.  H.  McKeuzie, 
the  church  was  greatly  improved  and  beautified.  The  An- 
nual Conferences  of  1865  and  1874  were  held  in  this  place. 

At  Boscobel,  Father  Ransom,  now  in  his  eighty-second 
year,  and  Mother  Ransom,  in  her  seventy-second  year,  are 
the  only  surviving  members  of  the  first  class  in  that  place. 

The  region  of  country  now  embraced  in  the  Darling- 
ton, Fayette,  Wiota,  and  Argyle  charges  were  all  included 
in  1848  in  what  w^as  then  known  as  Hamilton  Grove 
Circuit. 

In  1857,  Providence  charge  was  set  ofl^  from  the  Hazel 
Green  Circuit.  It  was  so  named  after  one  of  the  churches 
on  the  charge.  This  church  was  erected  on  an  eminence  in 
the  center  of  a  mining  settlement.  It  was  then,  and  for 
many  years,  the  largest  church  in  the  Conference,  and  at 
each  service,  until  the  mining  interests  failed,  it  was  crowded 
w^ith  Avorshipers.  It  was  an  inspiration  to  stand  in  front 
of  the  church  on  Sabbath  afternoon,  and  see  the  miners, 
with  their  families,  wending  their  way    to   "the  house  of 

28 


338     METHODISM  IN  SOUTHWEST  WISCONSIN. 

the  Lord ;"  but  it  was  a  greater  inspiration  to  hear  the  sev- 
enty-five or  one  hundred  singers  and  musicians  in  the  gallery- 
praising  the  Lord  in  sacred  song.  This  new  charge  reported 
123  members  and  63  probationers  at  the  close  of  the  year. 

Lancaster  was  first  connected  with  Fennimore  Circuit, 
Previous  to  this  it  had  been  often  visited  by  the  Methodist 
itinerant.  Judge  J.  T.  Mills  says,  ''In  1837,  Methodist 
services  were  held  in  a  cabin  at  Bushnell  Hollow."  The 
first  Quarterly  Conference  held  in  Lancaster  was  in  1849, 
Rev.  Elmore  Yocum,  presiding  elder,  and  Benjamin  Close, 
preacher  in  charge.  In  1850  a  parsonage  w^as  built,  and 
in  1851  a  church  erected. 

The  first  sermon  in  the  section  now  embraced  in  the 
Oregon  Circuit  was  preached  in  the  house  of  R.  W.  Salis- 
bury, in  1843,  by  Rev.  Jesse  Bennett,  who  was  then  in 
charge  of  Madison  Mission.  At  this  service,  R.  W.  Salis- 
bury presented  his  certificate  of  membership  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  Brother  Bennett  remarked: 
"Brother  Salisbury  is  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
this  place."  In  1862  a  church  was  built  in  Oregon,  and  in 
1866  the  church-building  was  removed  from  Union  to 
Brooklyn.  Oregon  charge  has  been  a  desirable  resort  for 
retiring  presiding  elders,  and  as  long  as  Brother  James 
Day  lives  will  be  blessed  with  one  of  the  best  of  stewards. 

The  first  class  organized  on  the  Albany  charge  was  by 
Rev.  Hussey,  and  consisted  of  eight  members;  John  Ash 
was  appointed  class-leader.  Jeremiah  Brewer,  one  of  the 
number,  still  lives,  waiting,  in  extreme  old  age,  for  his 
translation  to  glory.  This  charge  has  well  sustained  its 
reputation  for  fidelity  to  its  pastors  and  activity  in  church- 
work. 

In  1856,  Mauston  Circuit  was  organized.  Methodism 
has  taken  firm  hold  of  the  Maustonians.  The  Church  has 
grown  and  prospered.  All  the  pastors  love  the  place  and 
people.     It  has  nobly  sustained  two  Annual  Conferences. 


PRIOR  TO  1856.  339 

This  year,  also,  Necedah  Circuit  was  organized.  Meth- 
odism from  the  first  in  this  place  has  been  in  the  lead. 
Hon.  John  T.  Kingston  has  given  to  Methodism  there  for 
years  his  influence  and  support.  Here,  also,  resided 
for  many  years,  until  his  death.  Brother  George  Summer- 
sides,  who  delighted  to  narrate  how  he  had,  while  running 
as  engineer  in  Italy,  on  the  first  railroad  ever  built  in  that 
country,  smuggled  many  hundreds  of  Bibles  into  that  land  ; 
and  he  claimed,  no  doubt  truly,  that  he  had  something  to 
do  in  preparing  the  Italians  to  throw  off  the  temporal 
power  of  the  Pope. 

Our  limits  forbid  further  detail  in  regard  to  the  charges 
at  this  early  period.  The  reader  is  referred  to  the  various 
Appendices,  which  have  been  prepared  Avith  great  care,  for 
much  information  bearing  upon  this  subject. 


340  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  II. 

WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE,  EIRST  SESSION,  1856. 

THE  West  Wisconsin  Conference  met  to  hold  its  first 
annual  session,  in  the  city  of  Madison,  August  20, 
1856,  Bishop  Simpson  presiding.  At  this  Conference  the 
bishop  preached  his  great  sermon  from  the  text,  "  This  is 
the  victory  that   overcometh  the   world  ;  even  our  faith." 

The  Conference  at  that  time  embraced  71  pastoral 
charges,  67  effective  preachers,  1  supernumerary,  and  4 
superannuated  preachers.  Sixty-seven  preachers  were  sta- 
tioned, and  10  places  left  to  be  supplied.  There  was  a 
membership  in  the  Conference  of  only  4,926,  and  823  pro- 
bationers; total,  5,749. 

Of  those  who  were  sent  out  to  labor  from  this  Confer- 
ence only  four  are  now  found  in  the  effective  work  in  the 
Conference;  viz.,  eTas.  Lawson,  Jas.  Sims,  Christopher 
Cook,  and  W.  F.  Delap.  Three  are  found  among  the  su- 
perannuates; viz.,  R.  Dudgeon,  C.  P.  Hackney,  and  E.  B. 
Russell.  A  few  are  found  in  other  Conferences,  but  most 
of  them  have  passed  from  labors  to  reward. 

Jas.  Lawson  has  sustained  an  unbroken  effective  rela- 
tion for  forty  Conference  years,  W.  F.  Delap  for  thirty- 
eight,  Jas.  Sims  for  thirty-six,  and  E.  B.  Russell  for  thir- 
ty-four. The  lamented  and  recently  departed  brother,  Wm. 
Haw,  referring  to  these  brethren,  remarked  that  "  they  may 
well  be  called  the  'Home  Guards'  of  the  Conference." 

It  was  at  this  Conference  that  Wm.  Haw  was  admitted 
on    trial,    and   received   his    first    appointment    as  junior 


Rev.   ALFRED  BRUNSON,   D.  D.  Rev.    ELMORE  YOCUM. 


Rev.    T.   M.   FULLEROX.  Rev.    MATTHEW  DINSDALE. 


AiVNALS  OF  IS 56.  341 

preacher  at  Black  River  Falls.  His  experience  in  going 
to  this,  his  first  charge,  we  will  give  in  his  own  words — 
giving  us  a  slight  glimpse  of  an  itinerant's  difficulties  in 
those  days.  He  says:  "  Leaving  my  home  near  Platte- 
ville,  on  the  1st  of  September,  1856,  T  started  north,  fur- 
nished with  a  good  horse.  I  crossed  the  Wisconsin  River 
at  Muscoda,  and  came,  on  the  night  of  the  third  day,  to 
a  place  then  known  as  Jacksonville — a  few  houses  not  far 
from  the  present  Tomah.  Forty  miles  yet  lay  between  me 
and  ray  destination,  and  that,  in  part,  over  an  Indian  trail. 
The  next  day  being  Saturday,  and  not  wishing  to  travel 
on  Sunday,  I  started  early.  At  noon  I  found  in  the  woods, 
on  the  head-waters  of  the  La  Crosse  River,  a  mill,  and 
near  by  a  large  encampment  of  Indians.  Taking  dinner 
at  the  mill,  I  started  on.  Soon  after  a  drenching  rain  com- 
menced ;  this  so  added  to  the  dreariness  and  loneliness  of 
the  way  that,  having  never  been  away  from  home  much, 
I  began  to  have  longings  in  that  direction.  Having 
crossed  the  dividing  ridge  between  La  Crosse  and  Black 
River,  I  came  to  a  marsh  over  which  the  Indians,  in  pass- 
ing, had  laid  poles  or  logs,  and,  in  attempting  to  turn 
from  this — as  I  saw  I  could  not  cross — my  horse  sank  be- 
neath me  in  the  quicksand !  Dismounting,  I  stood,  the 
rain  falling,  the  tall  grass  waving,  and  the  taller  pines 
sighing  a  most  mournful  dirge,  while  I  inwardly  resolved 
if  out  of  that  I  could  be  delivered  I  would  think  of  some- 
thing else  than  to  be  a  Methodist  preacher  !  After  a  few 
efforts  the  horse  came  out  on  the  homeward  side  of  the 
marsh.  So,  remounting,  I  began  to  retrace  my  steps, 
thinking  that  I  w^ould  stop  at  the  mill  over  Sunday,  and 
then  on  Monday  start  for  home.  At  the  mill,  however,  I 
found  an  ang^.  A  rough,  uncouth  man,  learning  what 
had  befallen  me  in  the  swamp,  advised  me  to  return,  and 
offered  to  pilot  me  on  the  way  five  or  six  miles  for  a  dol- 
lar.    The  offer  was  accepted,  and,  as  the  sun  was  near  its 


342  WEST   WISCO^'SIN  CONFERENCE. 

setting,  the  guide  was  paid  a  gold  dollar,  and  I  pursued 
ray  journey  alone.  I  was  yet  in  the  woods,  however,  and 
it  was  long  after  night  when,  wet,  and  tired,  and  home- 
sick, I  found,  in  Black  Kiver  Falls,  the  Methodist  parson- 
age. In  this,  after  vouching  for  myself  as  the  junior 
preacher  for  Black  River  Falls,  I  was  furnished  a  lounge 
on  which  to  sleep ;  and  next  morning  I  was  on  my  w^ay  to 
Alma  Center,  where,  on  the  fifth  day  of  September,  1856, 
I  preached  my  first  sermon  as  an  itinerant  preacher." 

At  this  session  there  were  transfered  to  the  Conference 
J.  W.  Miller,  J.  S.  Prescott,  M.  Bennett,  J.  Trotter,  and 
Jas.  Lawson — the  latter  having  been  placed  in  the  Rock 
River  Conference  by  change  of  boundaries.  Isaac  Searls, 
S.  W.  Martin,  and  D.  Stanbury  were  transferred  to  the 
Wisconsin  Conference. 

At  this  time  there  were  several  in  the  Conference  who 
afterwards  passed  out  of  it,  who,  in  a  history  of  this  nature, 
ought  to  have  a  passing  notice. 

Eli  C.  Jones,  as  early  as  1852,  was  appointed  to  St. 
Anthony,  in  Minnesota.  He  afterwards  filled  several  im- 
portant charges  in  Wisconsin,  and  was  presiding  elder  of 
Platteville  District  for  four  years.  Taking  a  superan- 
nuated relation,  he  resided  several  years  near  Moutfort, 
and  engaged  in  running  a  small  grist-mill.  During  the 
dark  days  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  a  sympathizer  with  the 
South.  In  1862  he  was  arraigned  before  the  Conference 
to  answer  for  his  expressed  disloyalty  to  the  Government. 
He  made  some  concessions,  and  promised  to  cease  advo- 
cating the  cause  of  the  South,  but  he  very  soon  forgot 
his  promise ;  for,  in  1864,  he  is  returned  as  withdrawn 
under  charges.  He  went  South,  joined  his  brethren  in  the 
Confederacy,  and  is  lost  from  our  sight.       • 

E.  Buck  was  of  a  kindred  spirit  with  his  brother,  Jones. 
During  the  early  period  of  the  Rebellion  he  w^as  stationed 
in  Platteville,   a  place  well  known  for   its   patriotism  and 


ANNA  LS  OF  1S5G.  343 

loyalty.  He  refused  to  pray  for  President  Liucolu  and  our 
soldiers  who  had  gone  South  to  put  down  the  RebelHon. 
He  wrote  several  articles  for  a  disloyal  Chicago  paper. 
His  conduct  caused  a  charge  of  disloyalty  to  be  made 
against  him.  He,  however,  refused  to  appear  at  the  An- 
nual Conference  to  meet  it,  but  sent  a  letter  of  withdrawal 
from  the  Church  to  the  Conference.  He  was  allowed  to 
*'  withdraw  under  censure."  He  also  went  South,  uniting 
with  one  of  the  Conferences  of  the  Church  South,  from 
which,  it  is  reported,  he  was  expelled. 

E.  S.  Buuce  was  effective  in  Wisconsin  twenty-eight 
years,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Minnesota  Con- 
ference, where  he  is  yet  doing  effective  work.  He  was  a 
powerful  preacher,  and  very  useful  in  his  work. 

R.  Dudgeon  was  effective  twenty-eight  years,  in  eight 
of  which  he  was  presiding  elder.  As  early  as  1852  he  was 
pastor  at  Stillwater,  Minnesota.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
General  Conference  in  1868.  During  the  period  of  his 
effective  work  he  was  most  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  en- 
joyed his  acquaintance.  He  was  safe  in  council,  discreet 
in  his  administration,  and  a  blessing  to  the  Conference. 
His  son,  Professor  R.  B.  Dudgeon,  is  a  successful  teacher 
and  a  talented  local  preacher. 

A.  H.  Walters  at  this  time  was  an  able,  vigorous  young 
man  in  the  Conference.  He  was  pastor,  presiding  elder, 
or  chaplain  in  the  army  until  1866,  w4ien  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Wisconsin  and  afterwards  to  Kansas  Con- 
ference.    After  prolonged  suffering,  he  died  in  1885. 

M.  Himebaugh  was  in  the  Conference  for  four  years,  and 
served  as  presiding  elder  of  Madison  District,  and  then 
was  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin  Conference,  where  he  is 
still  in  the  active  work.  He  is  a  man  of  good  pulpit 
ability,  and  often  preaches  with  great  power.  It  is  said 
that  at  the  Lodi  camp-meeting,  in  1853,  during  his  preach- 


344  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

iDg,  the  greater  portion  of  the  congregation  rose  to  their 
feet,  and  many  were  powerfully  convicted  and  converted. 

Joseph  Odgers  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Quarterly 
Conference  of  the  old  Council  Hill  Circuit,  Illinois,  which 
at  that  time  was  in  the  Wisconsin  Conference.  In  a  large 
Quarterly  Conference  of  over  thirty  members  his  license 
was  granted  by  a  majority  of  one,  many  doubting  that  he 
would  ever  make  a  preacher.  In  this,  however,  they 
were  mistaken.  After  doing  most  excellent  work  for  seven 
years  in  Wisconsin,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Rock  River 
Conference,  in  which  he  has  been  a  success,  and  is  now  in 
his  fourth  year  at  Halstead  Street,  Chicago. 

J.  W.  Miller  was  six  years  in  the  Conference.  He 
was  an  able  preacher,  but  appeared,  however,  to  have  a 
"  thorn  in  the  flesh  "  in  regard  to  his  name.  Miller  being 
such  a  common  name,  he  said,  "  his  mail-matter  became 
greatly  demoralized."  He  first  changed  his  name  to  Mil- 
lour,  and  in  1861,  by  legal  enactment,  to  J.  W.  M. 
Vernon,  by  which  name  he  was  transferred  to  Illinois 
Conference  in  1861. 

For  several  years  prior  to  the  division  of  the  Con- 
ference in  1856  the  anti-slavery  principle  had  been  in- 
creasing in  the  Conference,  although  great  effort  was 
made  to  keep  it  in  check  by  some  of  the  "fathers"  of 
the  Conference,  who  not  only  opposed  for  a  time  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  committee  on  the  subject,  but  were  ever 
ready  with  the  utterance,  "It  [slavery]  is  a  question  en- 
tirely of  a  political  character,  and  we  have  nothing  to  do 
with  it."  But  the  tide  of  opposition  to  slavery  kept  rising ; 
so  that,  in  1855,  the  Report  on  Slavery,  denouncing  it  in 
all  its  forms,  was  passed  by  a  large  majority,  and  the 
General  Conference  asked  "  to  modify  the  General  Rule 
so  as  to  prevent  the  admission  of  any  slaveholder  into  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  !"  At  the  first  session  of  the 
West  Wisconsin  Conference,  after  cousiderable  opposition. 


ANNALS  OF  1S5G.  345 

a  committee  of  three  was  appointed  on  Slavery ;  but  such 
was  the  opposition  and  influence  of  a  few  of  the  "  fathers" 
of  the  Conference  upon  the  committee,  that  a  majority  of 
the  committee  presented  a  report  expressive  more  of  sym- 
pathy with,  than  of  opposition  to.  the  institution.  On  the 
presentation  of  this  report,  Kev.  J.  M.  Wells  presented  a 
minority  report,  declaring  that  our  "  General  Rule  on  Slav- 
ery ought  to  be  changed  so  as  to  read  '  buying,  selling, 
or  holding  a  human  being  as  a  slave.'"  This  minority  re- 
port was  adopted  by  a  large  majority;  and  thus,  from  the 
first,  the  West  AViscousin  Conference  gave  no  uncertain 
sound  against  "  the  sum  of  all  villainies."  This  action  of 
the  Conference  was  not  pleasing  to  some  of  the- laity  of 
the  Conference.  One  case  came  to  the  personal  knowledge 
of  the  wTiter.  In  going  to  his  new  charge  from  this  Con- 
ference, he  had  but  just  arrived  in  the  place  when  he  re- 
ceived a  note  from  one.  of  the  oldest  and  most  influential 
members  of  his  Church,  asking  to  withdraw  from  the 
Church  on  account  of  the  action  of  the  Conference  on  this 
subject.  After  visiting  and  advising  with  this  brother, 
he  concluded  to  withdraw  his  request,  and  he  was  saved 
to  the  Church.  In  less  than  six  years  from  this  time  he 
had  himself  become  strongly  opposed  to  slavery,  and  the 
Civil  War  made  him  an  out-and-out  Abolitionist. 

29 


346  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  III. 

WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE,  1857-9. 

THE  Conference  of  1857  was  held  August  12th,  at  Min- 
eral Point,  Bishop  Ames  presiding.  During  the  ses- 
sion the  rain  was  incessant,  and  great  difficulty  was  experi- 
enced by  the  preachers  in  getting  to  and  from  the  Conference 
sessions,  there  being  but  a  very  limited  supply  of  sidewalks, 
and  the  clay  of  the  region  being  most  adhesive. 

At  this  Conference  an  increase  of  544  members  was  re- 
ported, and  10  preachers  were  admitted  on  trial.  Among 
these,  several  worthy  names  are  found. 

J.  B.  Bachman  has  given  thirty-one  years  of  the  best  of 
his  days  to  the  itinerancy,  during  four  of  which  he  was 
presiding  elder  of  the  Kilbourn  City  District.  At  the 
present  he  sustains  a  supernumerary  relation,  and  is  edit- 
ing a  paper  at  Eau  Claire,  the  name  of  which,  The  Progress, 
fully  indicates  its  exalted  motive  and  aim. 

John  Knibbs,  who  had  been  employed  as  a  supply  on 
the  Eastman  Mission  during  the  previous  year,  in  going 
to  one  of  his  appointments,  lost  himself  in  the  Kickapoo 
woods.  He  wandered  about  from  Tuesday  morning  to 
Friday  afternoon — four  days  and  three  nights — in  the 
coldest  part  of  winter,  without  food  or  drink,  save  the 
snow  which  he  melted  in  his  mouth.  When  found,  his  hear- 
ing and  his  speech  were  nearly  gone,  and  his  hands  and 
feet  and  face  frozen !  His  hearing  was  never  restored ; 
one  foot  was  lost.  After  much  suffering,  and  faithful 
preaching  for  twenty-seven  years  in  the  Conference,  he 
died  in  Prairie  du  Chien,   February   1,   1884,   universally 


ANNALS  OF  1857-9.  347 

beloved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  bim.  His  devoted 
companion,  Amelia  Knibbs,  Avas  a  Christian  lady  of  rather 
retired  habits,  yet  useful  and  esteemed  by  all.  She  sur- 
vived him  only  about  three  years,  spending  the  last  of  her 
days  near  her  brother.  Rev.  C.  W.  Blodgett,  presiding 
elder  of  Atlantic  District,  Des  Moines  Conference. 

Isaac  E.  Springer  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Elihu  SpringtM  , 
of  precious  memory,  who  died  of  cholera,  in  1850,  when  he 
was  presiding  elder  of  the  Milwaukee  District.  His  sou  Isaac 
was  a  young  man  of  promise,  and  grew  in  the  favor  and 
confidence  of  his  brethren.  He  served  several  years  as 
Conference  secretary,  spent  seventeen  years  of  successful 
pastoral  work  in  the  Northwest  and  West  Wisconsin  Con- 
ferences, was  transferred  in  1873  to  the  Rock  River  Confer- 
ence, and  is  now  doing  excellent  work  in  one  of  the  Michi- 
igan  Conferences. 

John  Holt  was  received  and  appointed  at  this  Confer- 
ence to  the  Mindora  Mission.  He  found  thirty-seven  mem- 
bers, all  told,  on  the  charge.  The  former  pastor  had  left 
for  the  want  of  support ;  but  he  went  to  work,  making 
four  hundred  visits  before  his  first  quarterly  meeting,  en- 
larged the  parsonage,  and,  before  the  close  of  November, 
had  witnessed  forty  conversions  and  additions  to  the 
Church.  In  1860  he,  with  his  wife  and  three  children 
(one  of  them  a  babe),  was  sent  to  the  Leon  charge.  After 
being  houseless  and  homeless  for  more  than  three  months, 
at  the  very  worst  season  of  the  year,  he  succeeded  in  get- 
ting up  the  kitchen  part  of  a  parsonage,  he  working  on 
it  with  his  own  hands  for  many  weeks  through  the  day, 
and  preaching  at  night.  In  the  month  of  January  he 
moved  into  it,  when  it  was  without  doors  or  windows. 
Providence  threw  around  him  a  sheltering  care,  his  loved 
ones  were  preserved,  and  souls  were  converted.  We  can 
not  follow  this  brother  during  the  thirty-three  years  of  his 
eflTective^itinerant  life.     He   has  been  an  earnest,  faithful, 


348  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

and  devoted  toiler  iu  the  Master's  cause.  Few  have  ex- 
celled him  iu  what  one  has  called  "knee-work,"  and  this, 
joined  with  his  irrepressible  energy,  has  made  him  a 
blessing  to  the  people  on  every  charge,  and  God's  chosen 
instrument  in  the  conversion  of  many   hundreds  of  souls. 

G.  W.  Nuzum  has  given  twenty-eight  years  of  his  val- 
uable life  (nineteen  in  the  effective,  and  nine  as  super- 
numerary) to  the  Church,  and  during  all  this  period  he 
has  been  ready  to  lift  up  the  banner  of  the  cross.  As  a 
preacher  and  pastor  he  has  been  greatly  beloved  by  the 
people,  and  especially  by  the  children  of  his  charge.  He 
is  blest  with  a  talent — only  given  to  a  few — of  greatly 
interesting  the  children,  and  is  always  in  demand  when 
a  children's  meetiug  is  to  be  held.  One  of  his  sons.  Rev. 
I.  F.  Nuzum,  is  a  member  of  the  Conference.  He  is  fast 
rising  in  popularity,  and  is  now  filling  one  of  our  best  and 
most  important  charges.  Another  son.  Dr.  Thomas  Nu- 
zum, of  Brodhead,  is  a  successful  physician,  a  Christian 
gentleman,  and  a  devoted  Methodist.  Another  son  is 
John  E.  Nuzum,  of  Merrimack,  who,  on  account  of  his  firm 
stand  for  temperance  and  prohibition,  has  recently  suf- 
fered several  losses,  the  last  being  the  burning  of  a  new 
barn,  well  filled  with  grain.  Father  Nuzum  has  also  two 
daughters,  who  have  married  itinerant  ministers,  one  being - 
the  excellent  wife  of  Rev.  Thomas  Snodgrass,  and  the 
other  the  companion  and  helper  of  Rev.  Thomas  Foulkes. 
Such  sons  and  daughters  are  indeed  a  "crown  of  glory" 
on  the  hoary  heads  of  their  revered  parents. 

Rev.  Elmore  Yocum  was  transferred  at  this  session 
from  the  Wisconsin  Conference,  and  appointed  presiding 
elder  of  Point  Bluff  District.  This  dearly  beloved  brother, 
on  account  of  the  length  of  time  he  has  been  an  effective 
preacher,  is  certainly  worthy  of  being  called  the  father  of 
all  the  Conferences  from  the  Ohio  to  Lake  Superior.  In 
the  year  1829  he  became  an   effective  itinerant,   and  for 


ANNALS  OF  1S57-9.  349 

twenty-six  years  he  labored  as  such  in  Ohio.  In  1849  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin  Conference,  and  his  work 
in  Wisconsin  has  been  a  full  vindication  of  the  remark  of 
Bishop  James,  when  he  announced  his  transfer,  namely : 
"  You  are  getting  one  of  the  strong  men  of  the  Ohio  Con- 
ference." He  has  been,  during  his  long  itinerancy,  effective 
fifty-four  Conference  years,  in  fourteen  of  which  he  was  em- 
ployed as  presiding  elder.  He  is  now  in  his  fourth  year  in 
the  superannuated  relation,  but  is  supplying  a  charge  just 
as  he  ever  has  done  for  fifty-eight  years,  and  is  greatly  re- 
vered and  beloved  by  all  the  people.  In  recording  such  a 
life  it  is  beyond  our  powers  to  do  justice  to  the  subject; 
there  is  so  much  contained  in  it  of  devotion  to  Methodism 
and  the  cause  of  Christ,  that  some  abler  pen  would  do  well 
to  record  it  in  a  separate  biography. 

A  request  was  made  at  this  Conference  that  the  time 
of  holding  the  Conference  should  be  chano;ed  from  the  fall 
to  the  spring,  as  a  more  favorable  time  to  secure  a  house 
for  the  pastor,  and  a  better  prospect  of  deriving  greater 
benefit  from  a  garden. 

At  this  session  Rev.  I.  M.  Stagg  was  transferred  to  the 
Southern  Illinois,  and  S.  W.  Ford  and  A.  Callender  to  the 
AVisconsin  Conferences. 

At  this  Conference  William  Owens  was  received  by 
transfer,  and  appointed  to  the  Welsh  Circuit,  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Dodgeville.  Here  he  remained  for  several  years, 
laboring  faithfully  among  the  Welsh  population  until,  by 
removals,  the  special  work  among  that  people  was  no 
longer  demanded.  The  church  edifice  was  given  to  the 
English-speaking  Church.  Brother  Owens  still  retains  his 
connection  with  the  Conference,  residing  near  Dodgeville, 
living  a  consistent  Christian  life. 

The  trustees  of  Galesville  University  sent  to  this  Con- 
ference an  offer,  accompanied  with  a  request  "  for  the 
Conference  to  take  that  institution  under  its   supervision 


350  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

and  control,"  whereupon  an  able  committee  was  appointed 
to  consider  the  expediency  of  the  request,  and  report  to 
the  Conference  at  its  next  session. 

Any  Appendices  referred  to  in  this  j^art  refer  to  those 
relating  to  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference,  unless  other- 
wise stated. 

The  Conference  of  1858  convened  in  La  Crosse  on  the 
29th  of  April,  Bishop  Morris  presiding.  As  usual,  the 
bishop  received  a  number  of  letters  and  petitions  from  va- 
rious places  in  the  Conference,  setting  forth  their  wants, 
and  describing  the  kind  of  preacher  they  desired.  For 
instance,  one  letter,  to  wdiich  was  attached  several  signa- 
tures, asked  for  a  "  man  to  stir  them  up  with  a  long  pole ; 
yes,  send  us  a  snorter."  Another  was  from  a  place  where 
unfortunately  they  had  no  road  to  the  church,  only  as 
they  went  through  the  possessions  of  their  neighbors,  and 
they  therefore  sent  their  petition  ''asking  the  bishop  to  ex- 
ercise his  authority,  and  open  a  road  to  their  church." 
Over  this  petition  the  good  old  bishop  had  a  hearty  laugh, 
and  expressed  a  willingness  to  grant  relief,  but  was  sorry 
it  was  beyond  the  powers  of  even  a  Methodist  bishop  to 
do  so. 

At  this  Conference  thirteen  were  admitted  on  trial, 
some  of  whom  are  well  worthy  of  a  brief  notice  in  these 
pages. 

Henry  Colman  was  received  and  was  stationed  at  Brod- 
head,  as  the  first  minister  sent  by  the  Conference.  He 
onl}'-  remained  one  year,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Wisconsin  Conference,  and  of  whose  work  reference  is  made 
in  the  earlier  pages  of  this  book. 

Samuel  Fallows,  now  Bishop  Fallows,  of  the  Reformed 
Episcopal  Church,  is  another  of  the  *'  bright  and  shining 
lights "  received  this  year.  He  remained  with  us  four 
years,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin  Confer- 
ence.    The  writer  of  these  pages  has  a  personal  interest  in 


ANNALS  OF  1857-9.  351 

this  talented  brother.  In  the  winter  of  1852,  during  a 
protracted  meeting  held  by  him  on  the  old  Fall  Kiver  Cir- 
cuit, Samuel,  then  a  young  man  of  seventeen,  was  con- 
verted, and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  To 
the  General  Conference  of  1880  he  was  sent  as  the  frater- 
nal delegate  from  the  Reformed  Episcopal  Church.  In 
delivering  his  message  to  the  General  Conference,  of  which 
the  writer  was  a  member,  he  thus  touchingly  referred  to 
his  conversion  :  "At  seventeen  years  of  age,  in  a  humble 
school-house  in  Wisconsin,  under  the  faithful  labors  of  a 
devoted  Methodist  Episcopal  preacher,  a  delegate  to  this 
General  Conference,  into  whose  tearful  eyes  my  own  are 
now  looking,  I  gave  my  heart  to  God  in  an  unconditional 
surrender  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  An  exhorter,  a  local 
preacher,  a  circuit-rider,  I  passed  through  the  various 
grades  of  the  Methodist  preacher's  w^ork.  Ordained  deacon 
by  the  glorified  Bishop  Baker,  an  elder  by  the  honored 
senior  bishop  of  your  Church,  Bishop  Scott,  I  never  went 
back  on  that  ordination,  and  have  suffered  no  man  unre- 
buked  to  call  it  in  question." 

Matthew  Dinsdale  was  another  received,  who  has  done 
long  and  faithful  work  in  the  Conference.  In  the  fall  of 
1845  he  was  received  on  probation  in  the  Rock  River  Con- 
ference, and  w^as  appointed  to  Potosi,  Wisconsin.  He 
''  boarded  round,"  and  was  in  labors  and  privations  abun- 
dant. In  1846  he  was  sent  to  Winnebago  Lake  Mission, 
with  Oshkosh  for  head-quarters.  He  had  the  whole  county  , 
to  attend  to,  and  preached  the  first  sermon  in  many  parts 
of  that  county,  having  at  least  twelve  appointments. 
The  membership  increased  that  year  from  32  to  64.  His 
health  failing,  he  went  into  the  mercantile  business  at  Lin- 
den, low'a  County,  Wisconsin,  where  he  remained,  exerting 
a  most  hallowed  Christian  influence,  until  he  united  with 
the  Conference.  In  1850  he  selected  a  most  estimable 
Christian  lady  for  his   life- companion.       He  has  devoted 


352  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE 

nineteen  years  to  the  effective  work,  and  during  a  super- 
annuation of  several  years  has  hut  seldom  passed  a  Sabbath 
without  preaching  the  gospel.  For  many  years  he  was 
the  faithful  missionary  treasurer  of  the  Conference,  and 
has  long  served  the  Church  on  the  Conference  Board  of 
Church  Extension,  on  which  Board  his  business  tact,  ex- 
cellent judgment,  and  deep  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the 
Church  have  been  invaluable. 

J.  D.  Searls,  admitted  at  this  Conference  after  trying 
the  work  for  three  years,  thought  he  saw  a  "  more  excel- 
lent way"  in  a  sister  denomination;  but  after  a  trial  of 
two  years  he  returned  to  the  Conference,  to  which  he  has 
since  given  twenty-seven  years  of  faithful,  successful 
service.  During  this  period  he  has  been  thirteen  years 
presiding  elder,  three  of  which  were  spent  as  superintend- 
ent of  the  Black  Hills  Mission.  He  is  now  presiding 
elder  of  Portage  District,  in  which  he  is  active  and 
efficient. 

This  year  Rev.  P.  S  Mather  was  received  by  trans- 
fer from  the  Providence  Conference  and  stationed  at 
Prairie  du  Chien.  He  became  well  and  favorably  known 
during  his  twenty-two  years  effective  work  in  the  Confer- 
ence, during  six  of  which  he  was  presiding  elder. 

The  committee  appointed  to  report  on  the  expediency 
of  taking  Galesville  University  under  the  supervision  of 
the  Conference,  reported  ''that  they  found  eighty  acres 
•of  land  in  the  heart  of  Galesville  upon  which  to  build  the 
colleo^e ;  also  one  thousand  and  eightv-seven  acres  of  land 
to  be  reserved  for  its  endowment;  that  the  trustees 
reported  sufficient  income  to  complete  the  building  and 
endow  it ;  that  they  did  not  ask  the  Conference  to  assume 
any  financial  burdens;"  therefore  they  recommended  the 
Conference,  in  view  of  these  things,  to  accept  the  offer  of 
the  trustees  and  take  the  institution  under  its  patronage 
and  control. 


ANNALS  OF  1S57-9.  353 

The  fourth  session  of  the  Conference  met  at  Monroe, 
April  6,  1859,  Bishop  Baker  presiding.  This  was  the 
second  trial  of  spring  Conferences,  which  proved  sufficient 
to  quencli  the  ardor  of  all  the  advocates  of  a  spring  Con- 
ference. The  doleful  plight  in  which  some  of  tlie  preach- 
ers reached  the  Conference,  who  had  come  on  horseback 
or  on  wheels,  through  the  storm  and  sleet  in  the  mud  at 
the  l)reaking  up  of  winter,  was  a  complete  quietus  on 
spring  Conferences  in  Wisconsin.  To  add  to  the  situation, 
it  rained  almost  incessantly  during  the  Conference,  and 
the  mud  in  the  streets  was  so  deep  as  to  make  it  all  but 
impossible  to  get  about,  and  the  result  of  the  wiiole  mat- 
ter was  the  passing  of  a  unanimous  and  urgent  resolution 
to  have  our  Conference  sessions  in  the  fall.  At  this  Con- 
ference there  was  not  that  degree  of  iiarmony  which 
should  ever  prevail  in  an  Annual  Conference.  The  princi- 
pal matter  of  discord  was  a  serious  division  in  the  local 
Church  at  Monroe,  and  a  spirit  of  sectionalism  which  had 
crept  into  the  Conference,  but  which  was  so  wisely  han- 
dled and  adjusted  by  the  wise  counsels  of  the  bishop  and 
his  cabinet  that  it  never  after  even  so  much  as  raised  its 
head.  An  increase  of  1,043  members  was  reported.  A 
report  prepared  by  Rev.  P.  8.  Mather  on  Divorce  was 
adopted,  taking  firm  and  positive  ground  against  "con- 
tracting a  second  marriage  during  the  natural  lives  of  the 
parties,  except  it  be  for  a  positive  violation  of  the  Seventh 
Commandment;  disapproving  of  preachers  performing  the 
marriage  rite  for  persons  who  had  been  divorced,  unless 
assured  said  person  has  been  divorced  on  Scriptural 
grounds ;  and  that  no  preacher  shall  be  received  who  has 
been  divorced,  nor  any  presiding  elder  be  allowed  to 
employ  any  such  person  on  his  district." 

Another  Conference  was  held,  October  5,  1859,  in 
Platteville,  Bishop  Janes  presiding.  In  the  seven  admitted 
on  trial  we  find  the  names  of  two  Englishmen,  John  Medd 


354  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

and  Thomas  Lawson.  The  former  has  held  an  effective 
relation  for  twenty -seven,  and  the  latter  twenty-four  years. 
They  have  labored  upon  some  of  the  hardest  fields,  but  have 
witnessed  the  conversion  of  many  souls.  They  now  both 
sustain  a  supernumerary  relation.  Joseph  E.  Irish  was 
also  admitted.  He  has  filled,  during  his  connection  with 
the  Conference,  some  important  positions,  both  in  Church 
and  State.  He  has  been  in  the  effective  ranks  twenty-six 
years,  during  which  time  he  has  been  presiding  elder  seven 
years.  For  the  past  four  years  he  has  been  supernumer- 
ary, and  at  present,  on  account  of  enfeebled  health,  is  able 
to  do  but  little  for  the  Master.  He  received  the  degree 
of  D.  D.  from  Lawrence  University. 

At  this  Conference  two  of  the  most  promising  men 
of  the  Conference  were  expelled  for  gross  immorality. 
These  cases  of  discipline,  so  unusual  at  one  Conference, 
were  a  great  affliction  to  the  Conference,  and  a  stain  on  the 
blessed  cause  of  the  Master.  We  are  happy  to  say,  how- 
ever, that  both  of  the  expelled  brethren,  after  contrition 
and  reformation,  were  again  restored  to  the  Church  and 
ministry,   both  laboring  successfully  in  other  Conferences. 

During  this  year  the  first  death  occurred  in  the  ranks 
of  the  ministry  since  the  organization  of  the  Conference. 
Rev.  John  Blackhurst  died  in  Argyle,  October  6,  1859. 
He  was  an  excellent  preacher,  and  passed  away  in  his 
forty-first  year,  with  shouts  of  "  Glory  !  glory  !  glory!"  fall- 
ing from  his  lips.  Nine  thousand  four  hundred  members 
and  probationers  were  reported,  being  an  increase  for  the 
three  years  of  3,651,  the  largest  membership  being  on  the 
Platteville  District,  which  has  ever  been  the  banner  dis- 
trict for  membership  and  missionary  collections.  The 
aggregate  value  of  Church  property  this  year  was  $85,750. 

At  this  Conference,  delegates  were  elected  to  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  to  be  held  in  Buffalo  in  1860.  The  issue 
before  the   Conference  in   this  election  was  to   select  only 


ANNALS  OF  1857-9,  355 

those  who  favored  the  change  of  the  General  Rule  on 
Slavery,  prohibiting  slaveholding  in  all  its  forms.  Among 
those  elected  was  one  of  the  fathers  of  the  Conference, 
who,  on  account  of  his  well-known  and  expressed  views  that 
slavery  was  "  wholly  a  political  matter,  with  which  the 
Church  had  nothing  to  do,"  had  four  years  before  failed  of 
an  election,  but  during  the  quadrennium  had  been  serving  a 
probation  as  to  his  change  of  views  on  the  subject,  and,  be- 
ing otherwise  capable  and  efficient,  was  therefore  elected. 
The  delegates  were  A.  Brunson,  J.  L.  Williams,  and  T.  C. 
Golden,  who  faithfully  represented  their  Conference  on  that 
question  ;  but  it  appeared  the  time  was  not  yet  come  for 
the  General  Conference  to  adopt  the  new  rule. 

Among  the  visitors  to  the  Conference  this  year  was  the 
old  veteran,  Rev.  Henry  Summers,  whose  daughter,  Mrs. 
Kirkpatrick,  resided  in  Platte ville.  Few  men  did  more  or 
better  pioneer  work  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  than  he  had 
done.  His  memory  is  precious,  while  he  rests  from  his 
labors,  and  his  works  do  follow^  him. 


356      METHODISM  TN  NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

METHODISM  IN  NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN  PRIOR  TO  ORGANI- 
ZATION OF  THE  NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN 
CONFERENCE,  1S56-60. 

AS  already  stated  m  a  previous  chapter,  the  General 
Conference  of  1856  placed  a  large  portion  of  North- 
west Wisconsin  in  the  Minnesota  Conference.  This  terri- 
tory was  one  hundred  and  eighty -six  miles  long  and  from 
sixty  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  six  miles  wide.  It  cov- 
ered almost  the  entire  lumber  region  of  the  State,  em- 
bracing the  rich  but  as  yet  undeveloped  valleys  of  the  Black, 
Chippewa,  Cedar,  and  St.  Croix  Rivers,  with  their  numer- 
ous tributaries.  At  this  date  it  was  yet  comparatively  new 
territory.  The  richness  of  the  lumber  interests,  however, 
were  fast  developing,  while  the  pioneer  itinerant  was 
pushing  his  way  among  the  early  ^ettlers. 

A  review  of  Methodism  as  to  its  origin  in  this  part  of 
the  State,  during  those  years,  now  appears  to  be  neces- 
sary. As  early  as  1842,  Rev.  Alfred  Brunson,  being  com- 
missioned by  the  Secretary  of  War  as  Indian  agent,  made 
a  trip  from  Prairie  du  Chien,  where  he  then  resided,  to 
La  Pointe,  on  Lake  Superior,  passing  up  through  the  Black 
River  Valley  to  Black  River  Falls,  and  up  the  Chippewa 
Valley  to  Chippewa  City,  then  on  to  La  Pointe.  In  bis 
interesting  account  of  his  trip  in  the  Western  Pioneer,  we 
find  no  reference  to  the  religious  condition  of  the  country 
at  that  time,  any  further  than  his  finding  a  company  of 
Mormons  at  the  mills  of  Black  River  Falls,  who  were  get- 
ting out  lumber  for  their  temple  at  Nauvoo.  He  says : 
"Our  Mormon  friends  insisted  on  my  preaching,  and  not 


^  1^ 


Rev.   ENOCH  TASKER. 


Rev.   JAMES  SIMS. 


i 

_ . . ^ 

J 

Kw 

^ 

■1 

Rev.   JOHN  HOLT. 


Rev.   JOHN  MEDD. 


PRIOR  TO  1860.  357 

knowing  what  good  might  result  from  it,  I  consented." 
This  was  probably  the  first  sermon  ever  preached  in  the 
valleys  of  the  Black  or  Chippewa  Rivers — at  least  by  a 
Methodist  preacher.  Among  those  who  stand  identified 
with  this  field,  there  is  no  one  who,  on  account  of  the  long 
and  valuable  service  rendered,  is  more  entitled  to  the  name 
of  the  founder  of  Methodism  in  Northwest  Wisconsin  than 
the  Rev.  Chauncey  Hobart,  D.  D.  He,  with  his  twin- 
brother  Norris,  was  born  ou  the  east  side  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  June  9,  1811.  In  1834,  after  deep  conviction  and  a 
long  struggle,  he  found  "sweet  peace  in  believing."  The 
same  year  he  was  appointed  class-leader,  steward,  and 
exhorter,  and  from  Rev.  Peter  Cartwright,  in  1835,  he 
received  his  first  license  to  preach.  In  1836  he  was  admit- 
ted on  trial  in  the  Illinois  Conference.  In  1846  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Rock  River  Conference,  and  stationed  at 
Clark  Street,  Chicago.  He  still  lives  at  Red  Wing,  Min- 
nesota, beloved  and  respected  by  all.  In  closing  a  recent 
note  to  us  he  says :  "  I  am  walking  by  faith,  and  not  by 
sight,  and  have  a  good  hope  that  on  '  some  sweet  day,  by  and 
by,'  the  angels  will  open  the  pearly  gates,  and  I  shall  enter 
in  to  be  '  forever  with  the  Lord,'  and  to  meet  so  many 
w^hom  I  have  known  and  loved  in  this  world.  O,  what  a 
time  of  rejoicing  that  will  be  !"  To  him  the  writer  of  .these 
pages  is  greatly  indebted  for  information  in  regard  to  our 
work  in  the  Northwest  Wisconsin  Conference,  in  which 
he  was  very  conspicuous. 

Whatever  there  was  pertaining  to  Methodist  history  in 
this  part  of  the  State  and  in  Minnesota  prior  to  1856,  was 
under  the  supervision  of  the  Wisconsin  Conference.  For 
an  account  of  it  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  history  of  that 
Conference,  in  Part  II  of  this  volume.  Still,  a  few  addi- 
tional particulars  will  be  given  here. 

At  the  second  session  of  the  Wisconsin  Conference 
(1849),  Dr.  Hobart  was  appointed  presiding  elder  of  Min- 


358      METHODISM  IN  NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN. 

nesota  Mission  District,  and  pastor  at  St.  Paul.  His  dis- 
trict consisted  of  three  charges  in  Minnesota  and  three  in 
Wisconsin.  Those  in  Wisconsin  were  Round  Prairie 
Mission  (Viroqua),  Jesse  Pardun  ;  Black  River  Mission, 
R.  R.  Wood  ;  and  Chippewa  Mission,  to  be  supplied.  The 
returns  made  from  the  entire  district  in  1850  were  102  mem- 
bers, 44  probationers,  4  local  preachers,  and  1  church.  The 
whole  ministerial  support  of  the  district  for  the  year  was 
$433.  In  1850  the  district  was  enlarged  so  as  to  include 
not  only  all  of  Minnesota,  but  that  part  of  Wisconsin  lying 
west  of  the  Wisconsin  River  up  to^the  mouth  of  Dell  Creek, 
where  Kilbourn  now  stands.  This  vast  territory  was 
divided  into  ten  charges,  those  in  Wisconsin  being  Chip- 
pewa River  Mission,  to  be  supplied  ;  Black  River  Mission, 
William  Shroff;  Round  Prairie  Mission,  Jesse  Pardun  ; 
Prairie  du  Chien  Mission,  Alfred  Brunson ;  Prairie  du 
Sac  Mission,  E.  S.  Bunce  ;  and  Adams  (Baraboo),  Nelson 
Butler.  The  returns  from  these  charges  at  the  close  of  the 
year  were  as  follows:  Chippewa  River,  blank;  Black 
River  Mission,  19  members;  Round  Prairie  Mission,  41 
members;  Prairie  du  Chien  Mission,  35  members;  Prairie 
du  Sac  Mission,  72  members;  and  Adams  (Baraboo),  127 
members  and  1  Church.  There  were  but  two  church 
edifices  in  the  entire  district,  one  being  located  at  St. 
Paul,  and  the  other  in  Baraboo.  The  first  missionary 
contribution  made  in  this  part  of  Northwest  Wisconsin 
was  made  by  the  Bad  Axe  and  Black  River  Mission,  and 
amounted  to  $5.45. 

Confining  our  attention  to  the  territory  in  the  north- 
west portion  of  the  State,  we  find  in  1851  the  following 
charges:  Chippewa  River  Mission,  N.  Mayne ;  Black 
River  Mission,  Jesse  Pardun ;  Prairie  La  Crosse  Mission, 
G.  Chester;  and  Round  Prairie  Mission,  Enos  Stephens. 
From  this  it  appears  that  Brother  Nicholas  Mayne  was 
the  first  preacher  appointed  by  the  Conference  to  Chip- 


PRIOR  TO  1860.  359 

pewa  Mission,  and   that  La  Crosse  appears  this  year  for 
the  first  time  on  the  list  of  appointments. 

Of  Brother  Chester,  the  first  pastor  on  La  Crosse 
Mission,  Brother  Hobart  says:  "Brother  Chester  did  a 
hard  year's  work.  His  charge  was  over  two  hundred 
miles  in  circumference,  as  he  traveled  it,  and  it  was  an 
exceedingly  rough  country.  Over  this  he  journeyed  on 
foot,  and  filled  all  his  appointments.  But  this  labor 
proved  too  exhausting  for  him  ;  he  was  taken  ill,  and 
although  he  partially  recovered,  yet  he  never  regained  his 
health."  He  received  8123  for  his  year's  work.  The  re- 
turns at  the  close  of  the  year  were :  Chippewa  River  Mis- 
sion, 12  members;  Black  River  Mission,  20  members;  and 
Prairie  La  Crosse  Mission,  40  members. 

This  is  the  first  mention  of  any  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  in  the  entire  Chippewa  Valley. 
As  yet  there  was  not  a  single  church-building,  and  only 
one  parsonage  located  in  the  Black  River  Mission. 

The  following  appears  in  1852 :  Round  Prairie  Mis- 
sion, Nicholas  Mayue;  Prairie  La  Crosse  Mission,  Jesse 
Pardun ;  and  Willow  River  Mission  (Hudson),  George 
Chester.  Black  River  and  Chippewa  Missions  are  not 
found  in  the  appointments  this  year. 

In  1853  the  name  of  Willow  River  is  changed  to  Hud- 
son Mission,  Xorris  Hobart,  pastor;  Chippewa  Mission  is 
left  to  be  supplied  ;  Sparta  and  Flemond  Creek  Mission, 
J.  Pardun  ;  Round  Prairie  Mission,  N.  Mayne ;  and  La 
Crosse,  Enoch  Tasker.  Black  River  Mission  does  not  ap- 
pear this  year. 

Part  of  this  territory  was  on  the  Prairie  du  Chien  Mis- 
sion District,  Alfred  Brunson,  presiding  elder ;  and  the  re- 
mainder on  Minnesota  Mission  District,  David  Brooks, 
presiding  elder. 

In  1854,  Black  River  Mission  appears  again,  after  hav- 
ing been  left  ofi"  for  two  years,  under  the  name   of  Black 


360     METHODISM  IN  NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN. 

River  Falls  and  Sparta  Mission,  N.  Mayne  and  J.  Pardun, 
preachers.  The  name  of  Round  Prairie  Mission  drops  out 
this  year,  and  Viroqua  Mission  is  substituted.  Luis  Valley, 
Monteville,  and  Prescott  appear  as  new  appointments. 

During  the  summer  of  1853,  Rev.  R.  Dudgeon  organ- 
ized the  first  classes  at  Prescott,  at  a  quarterly  meeting 
held  in  the  barn  of  Mr.  McMurphy.  This  quarterly 
meeting  was  the  first  ever  held  in  that  county.  In  1857, 
Rev.  Wm.  Hamilton  was  transferred  from  the  Northwest 
Indiana  Conference,  and  stationed  at  Prescott.  In  1859, 
Rev.  A.  G.  Nelson  was  pastor. 

In  1855  we  find  the  addition  of  Kansas,  Osceola,  and 
Superior  Missions.  To  the  latter,  John  Bean  was  appointed ; 
but,  on  account  of  its  inaccessibility — there  being  no  way 
of  reaching  it  except  by  going  by  way  of  Chicago  or  Mil- 
waukee, and  round  the  lakes — he  did  not  go.  Kansas 
Mission  embraced  that  section  at  present  known  as  Pepin, 
and  was  "left  to  be  supplied." 

The  total  membership  at  this  period  in  this  vast  terri- 
tory in  Northwest  AVisconsin  was  256  members,  1  church 
at  La  Crosse,  and  1  parsonage  at  Black  River  Falls. 

In  1856  this  territory,  except  the  La  Crosse  District, 
which  was  then  part  of  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference, 
was  attached  to  the  Minnesota  Conference,  which  had  just 
been  organized.  It  consisted  of  the  following  charges: 
Osceola,  Chippewa  Falls,  Hudson,  Willow  River,  and  Su- 
perior Missions  in  the  St.  Paul  District;  and  Prescott, 
North  Pepin,  Galesville,  and  Kinnickinnick(River]Falls),  in 
the  Winona  District. 

During  1855,  Rev.  D.  Brooks,  then  presiding  elder  of 
St.  Paul  District,  visited  Superior  and  preached  the  first 
English  Protestant  sermon  there.  In  1856,  Jas.  Peet  was 
sent  to  the  work,  and  remained  about  three  years.  The 
difficulty  he  experienced  in  reaching  his  work  is  thus  de- 
scribed by  himself:   "  The  distance  from  St.  Paul  to  Supe- 


PRIOR  TO  1S60.  361 

rior  City  is  about  oue  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  one  huudied 
and  thirty  lying  through  the  wilderness,  and  not  a  white 
family  living  in  the  whole  distance.  On  our  journey  we  slept 
out  of  doors  at  night,  on  the  snow-covered  ground — wife, 
children,  and  myself,  wrapped  in  blankets,  by  our  camp-fire. 
We  thawed  our  frozen  provisions,  from  time  to  time,  by  a 
little  fire  kindled  for  that  purpose.  Our  road  was  the  ice 
of  the  St.  Croix  River  and  an  old  Indian  trail,  the  under- 
brush of  which  had  been  cut  just  wide  enough  for  a  team 
to  get  through  with  a  sled.  After  nine  days  we  arrived 
at  the  head  of  Lake  Superior,  and  at  Superior  City  found 
two  Methodists — Brother  C.  Felt  and  wife." 

Brother  Peet,  securing  some  little  aid  from  the  East, 
set  about  building  a  church ;  but  after  awhile  the  debt 
took  it.  Another  church  was  afterwards  built,  which  shared 
the  same  fate ;  a  third  church  was  built,  which,  although 
small  and  rather  badly  located,  has  served  the  small  but 
faithful  society  as  a  place  of  worship.  Another  charge  at 
West  Superior  was  organized  in  1887,  which  promises 
good  results  in  that  fast  increasing  and  flourishing  city. 

In  1858  a  district  was  formed  in  Wisconsin,  viz.,Pres- 
cott  District,  Dr.  Hobart,  presiding  elder,  on  which  he  re- 
mained until  it  was  merged  in  the  Northwest  Wisconsin 
Conference,  in  1860. 

We  are  indebted  to  Rev.  T.  M.  Fullerton  for  valuable 
information  in  regard  to  early  Methodism  through  this  lum- 
bering section  of  the  State  at  this  period.  Prescott  District, 
as  organized  in  1858,  embraced  thirteen  charges,  six  of 
which  were  "left  to  be  supplied."  The  district  extended 
from  the  St.  Croix  Falls  to  the  mouth  of  Chippewa 
River,  some  two  hundred  miles  in  length,  and  included  all 
the  inhabitants  along  the  Trempealeau,  Beef,  Eau  Claire, 
Chippewa,  Rush,  Willow,  and  Apple  Rivers.  The  country 
was  rough,  almost  mountainous,  thinly  settled  as  yet,  and 
most  of  it  religiously  unorganized.     The  roads  were  largely 

30 


362     METHODISM  IN  NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN. 

those  made  by  lumbermen,  and  generally  ran  to  points  on» 
the  river  back  to  the  pineries. 

One  or  two  quarterly  meetings  had  been  held  in  the 
Chippewa  Valley,  in  the  fall  of  1857,  by  Rev.  S.  Bolles, 
presiding  elder  of  St.  Paul  District,  and  a  few  sermons 
had  been  preached  ;  but  the  work  as  yet  was  largely  un- 
organized. There  were  at  this  time  three  small  churches 
on  the  district — one  at  Hudson,  one  at  Prescott,  and  one 
at  Pepin  ;  these  three  churches  furnished  all  the  accom- 
modation in  that  line  the  district  afforded. 

Of  the  Bear  Creek  Mission,  which  was  afterwards 
changed  to  Maxville,  and  still  later  to  Durand,  some 
interesting  items  are  given  by  Rev.  E.  Doughty,  who  is 
now  with  the  hosts  above,  as  prepared  in  1867  by  Rev. 
Isaac  Springer. 

The  first  Methodist  family  which  settled  in  this  section 
was  that  of  Edward  Doughty,  who  lauded  at  Alma  in 
April,  1856.  With  the  aid  of  his  four  sons,  Daniel, 
Henry,  Samuel,  and  William,  a  ferry-boat  was  built,  with 
which  they  crossed  the  Beef  River.  The  boys  then  went 
before,  cutting  the  logs  out  of  the  way,  and  thus  making 
the  first  wagon-track  from  Alma  to  Maxville.  The  next 
family  of  Methodists  was  that  of  Henry  Coleman.  About 
the  last  of  June,  1857,  Rev.  E.  A.  Day  preached  the 
first  gospel  sermon  at  Brother  Coleman's  house.  At  this 
meeting  a  class  was  formed,  consisting  of  Edward  Doughty 
and  wife,  Daniel  Doughty  and  wife,  Samuel,  Henry,  and 
William  Doughty,  Henry,  Alice,  and  Charles  Coleman, 
and  Mary  Maxwell.  Occasional  sermons  were  preached 
in  1857-8  by  Revs.  Lorin  Campbell,  Ezekiel  Webster, 
and  James  Gurley. 

The  first  minister  appointed  to  this  charge  was  Sylves- 
ter M.  Webster.  He  came  as  a  volunteer  under  Elder 
Bolles's  direction.^  He  labored  with  great  success,  the  Lord 
working    mightily    through    him    to    the    confounding   of 


PRIOR  10  1860.  363 

Satan's  kingdom  and  to  the  spread  of  the  gospel.  In  his 
work  among  the  people  he  sometimes  became  so  over- 
powered by  a  sense  of  the  worth  of  and  love  for  souls, 
that  he  would  sit  down  in  the  road  and  weep.  This 
religious  awakening  which  attended  his  labors  was  not 
confined  to  his  charge.  The  work  spread  over  a  part  of 
four  counties;  viz.,  Buffalo,  Pepin,  Dunn,  and  Eau 
Claire.  The  whole  valley  of  the  Chippewa  felt  its  influ- 
ence. At  Rock  Creek,  fifty  miles  up ;  Fall  Creek,  ten 
miles  lower  down ;  at  Chippewa  village ;  at  the  mouth  of 
Bear  Creek  Valley ;  at  Mondovi  on  Beef  River,  and  at 
Rocks,  three  miles  above  Alma,  on  the  Mississippi — scores 
were  at  each  place  converted.  At  Pepin  over  one  hun- 
dred were  converted. 

Brother  E.  S.  Havens,  who  had  just  received  license 
to  preach,  although  one  of  the  most  timid  and  distrustful 
of  men,  yet  of  a  most  sympathetic  and  loving  nature,  ren- 
dered valuable  assistance  to  Brother  Webster  in  this 
extensive  awakening.  He  afterwards  united  with  the 
Conference,  in  which,  for  fourteen  years,  he  labored  with 
success.  In  1874  he  was  transferred  to  the  West  Texas 
Conference.  After  a  few  months  of  faithful  work  in  that 
Conference,  he  died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith. 

Brother  Webster  was  admitted  into  the  Conference  this 
year.  In  1860  he  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Scott, 
at  Sparta,  and  in  1863  received  a  location.  Of  his  later 
life  we  have  no  information. 

During  these  revivals,  thei'e  were  several  remarkable 
instances  of  divine  power.  Many  of  the  converts  were 
among  the  roughest  specimens  of  humanity,  the  men  being 
nearly  all  raftsmen,  rivermen,  and  lumbermen.  In  the 
number  of  those  who  came  among  the  crowds  there  were 
occasionally  some  of  the  *'  sons  of  Belial,"  whose  intention 
and  purpose  were  open  to  suspicion.  In  one  instance  the 
brethren  appointed  a  committee  to  watch  when  they  went 


364      METHODISM  IN  NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN. 

away,  to  see  that  they  did  not  make  too  free  with  the 
horse-blankets  and  other  loose  property. 

Of  the  Doughty  family,  mention  is  made  elsewhere  in 
these  pages.  Several  of  the  sons  are  still  pillars  in  the 
Church,  while  William  E.  has  been  for  several  years  a  suc- 
cessful itinerant  in  the  Conference.  Our  space  will  not 
allow  further  detail  in  regard  to  this  religious  awakening, 
only  to  add  that  it  was  the  greatest,  more  general,  and 
extensive  than  the  valley  of  the  Chippewa  has  ever  known. 

The  first  Methodist  Church  in  the  Chippewa  Valley 
was  erected  in  Pepin,  in  1859.  It  was  a  very  humble 
structure,  and  said  to  be  w^orth  $300.  One  who  knew  it 
well  says  :  "  The  interior  and  exterior  appearance  strongly 
indicated  that  it  was  built  in  troublous  times,  to  meet  pres- 
ent necessities,  and  not  for  generations  following."  The 
Kev.  Matthew  Sorin,  who  supplied  the  Chippewa  District 
during  the  absence  of  Brother  Hobart  as  chaplain  in  the 
army,  used  to  say,  in  reference  to  his  humble  church  at 
Pepin,  that  "  it  was  the  cathedral  of  INIethodism  in  the  Chip- 
pew^a  Valley  to  as  late  a  period  as  1866,  when  Eau  Claire, 
Menomonee,  and  Durand  began  to  make  efforts  to  build  a 
house  for  God." 

Brother  Sorin  bears  an  honored  name  in  the  annals  of 
Methodism.  He  was  an  eloquent  and  able  preacher.  His 
sermon  on  the  "Influence  of  Religion  on  Civil  Govern- 
ment," preached  in  Galena  in  1854,  in  which  he  showed 
the  pernicious  influence  of  popery  on  the  afiairs  of  State, 
was  long  remembered  in  that  city,  and,  by  request, 
was  published.  In  1865  he  was  presiding  elder  of  the  St. 
Louis  District ;  in  1869,  of  Kansas  City  District ;  in  1873 
he  was  stationed  at  Austin,  Missouri,  and  afterward  at 
Rollo.  He  was  stricken  Avith  paralysis  in  1879,  and  died 
at  Golden  City,  Colorado. 

About  1859,  Rev.  B.  Phillips,  a  Presbyterian  minister, 
built  a  church  in  Chippewa  Falls,  said  to  have  cost  $3,500. 


PRIOR  TO  I860.  365 

This  and  the  small  church  at  Pepin  were  probably  the  only- 
churches  at  this  date  in  the  Chippewa  Valley. 

In  1859  we  find  the  first  ofificial  mention  of  Methodism 
in  Eau  Claire  as  an  appointment,  "left  to  be  supplied." 
This  year  Rev.  J.  S.  Anderson  was  removed  from 
Menomouee,  to  which  place  he  had  been  sent  as  the  col- 
league of  Rev.  J.  L.  Dyer,  to  Eau  Claire.  He  reported 
at  the  end  of  the  year  49  members  and  7  probationers,  and 
a  Sabbath-school  of  36  scholars.  In  1860  the  charge  was 
divided — to  East  Eau  Claire,  Robert  Cobban,  and  to  West 
Eau  Claire,  W.  A.  Chambers,  pastors. 

In  this  stirring  city  the  work  has  prospered.  In  1866, 
during  the  pastorate  of  H.  W.  Bushnell  at  East  Eau 
Claire,  a  neat  church  was  erected,  valued  at  S4,000, 
which  has  since  been  enlargcvl  and  beautified. 

At  West  Eau  Claire  services  were  held  sometime  in 
the  Seminary  building.  During  the  pastorates  of  A.  J. 
Davis  and  E.  E.  Clough,  a  large  and  beautiful  church  was 
erected,  at  a  cost  of  over  $15,000.  In  this  church  the 
Annual  Conferences  of  1872,  1877,  and  1884  were  held, 
and  were  most  royally  entertained  by  the  Church  and  citi- 
zens. A  session  of  the  Northwest  Wisconsin  Conference 
was  held  in  this  city  in  1863. 

Chippewa  River  Mission  appears  as  early  as  1849,  but 
little,  however,  appears  to  have  been  accomplished  at  this 
place  for  several  years.  In  1854  Dwight  Kidder  was 
appointed  to  Chippewa.  At  the  close  of  the  year  he 
returned  forty-two  members.  After  this  it  was  '*  sup- 
plied" until  1860,  when  Thomas  Harwood  w^as  sent  as 
pastor.  His  circuit  was  large,  embracing  Chippewa  City, 
Bloomer  Prairie,  Randall's  Prairie,  Duncan's  Creek,  and 
Coop's  Prairie.  Most  of  it  was  a  trackless  wilderness  to 
travel,  but  through  it,  winter  and  summer,  he  labored. 
He  organized  during  the  year  five  new  classes.  He  very 
largely  supported  himself  by  teaching  and  running  lines 


366      METHODISM  IN  NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN. 

for  settlers  as  a  surveyor.  Shortly  after  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war  he  enlisted.  At  its  close  he  went  to  Colorado, 
and  since  then  has  been  connected  with  the  Spanish 
Mission  in  New  Mexico,  where  he  is  at  this  time  superin- 
tending the  work,  an  honored,  faithful,  and  useful  minis- 
ter of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1868  a  commodious  church  was  erected  at  Chip- 
pewa Falls,  E.  E.  Clough  pastor,  costing  over  $5,000, 
which  iu  1883  was  enlarged  and  beautified  during  the  pas- 
torate of  E.  L.  Semans. 

The  four  years  in  which  the  northwest  portion  of  the 
State  was  connected  with  the  Minnesota  Conference  were 
years  of  great  sacrifice  and  arduous  labor  and  toil  on  the 
part  of  both  ministers  and  laity,  but  not  without  success 
in  laying  the  foundations  of  Methodism  in  this  extensive 
field.  The  returns  at  the  close  of  the  last  year's  work 
were  948  members,  12  local  preachers ;  3  churches,  valued 
at  $4,000;  1  parsonage,  valued  at  $400;  collected  for 
missions  that  year,  $10.80;  36  Sunday-schools,  and  1,000 
scholars. 


ANNALS  OF  1860-65.  367 


CHAPTER  V. 

WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE,  1S60-5. 

THE  General  Conference  of  1860  again  changed  the 
boundaries  of  the  Conference,  by  forming  the  North- 
west Wisconsin  Conference  out  of  part  of  the  West  Wis- 
consin, and  that  portion  of  the  Minnesota  Conferences  in 
the  State  of  Wisconsin,  thus  taking  from  the  West  Wis- 
consin Conference  the  counties  of  La  Crosse,  Monroe,  Jack- 
son, and  a  portion  of  Vernon,  and  reducing  the  limits  of 
that  Conference  to  eleven  counties  in  the  extreme  south- 
west corner  of  the  State,  with  no  possibility  of  obtaining 
any  new  territory.  This  arrangement  could  not  be  other- 
wise than  embarrassing  to  the  work,  and  greatly  retarded 
the  Conference  in  both  material  and  spiritual  success. 

We  will  now  trace  the  history  of  the  West  Wisconsin 
Conference  during  the  eight  years  of  the  existence  of  the 
Northwest  Wisconsin  Conference,  and  then  devote  a  chap- 
ter to  the  latter. 

The  sixth  session  of  the  West  W^isconsin  Conference 
met  in  Baraboo,  September  12,  1860,  Bishop  Levi  Scott 
presiding.  A  previous  Conference  had  been  held  in  this 
most  hospitable  city  in  1853,  presided  over  by  the  same 
bishop.  At  that  time  the  bishop  dedicated  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  which  has  since  been  greatly  enlarged 
and  neatly  refitted.  There  had  been,  prior  to  this,  a 
somewhat  rude  church  built  of  rough  lumber,  and  filled 
with  saw-dust  between  the  boards,  in  which  the  people 
worshiped,  and  in  which  many  souls  were  converted. 


368  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

At  the  Conference  of  1860  an  afternoon  was  taken  to 
visit  Devil's  Lake,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  clear  water,  about 
one  mile  long  and  half  a  mile  wide,  surrounded  by  high 
bluffs  on  almost  every  side.  Among  the  preachers  were 
several  who  professed  some  knowledge  of  geology,  and  it 
was  amusing  to  see  the  now  departed  and  glorified  Dr. 
T.  M.  Eddy,  with  several  others,  hammer  in  hand,  en- 
deavoring to  break  splinters  from  some  of  the  massive 
rocks  which  surround  the  lake.  The  only  matter  that 
occurred  which  might  have  proved  serious,  if  help  had 
not  been  near,  was  the  slipping  of  Bishop  Scott  from 
one  of  the  rocks  into  the  lake,  which  at  that  place  was 
quite  deep. 

The  La  Crosse  District  being  now  in  the  new  Confer- 
ence, the  districts  were  reduced  to  five.  Seventy-nine 
preachers  were  appointed,  and  ten  charges  left  to  be  sup- 
plied. By  the  change  of  boundaries,  seven  hundred  mem- 
bers had  been  transferred  to  the  new  territory,  leaving  in 
the  Conference,  with  additions  made  during  the  year,  7,158 
members,  46  churches,  and  32  parsonages. 

Only  three  preachers  were  received  on  trial  this  year. 
William  Cook,  one  of  the  number,  after  traveling  two 
years,  enlisted  in  the  army.  As  the  company  in  which  he 
had  enlisted  was  at  the  time  of  the  session  of  the  Confer- 
ence leaving  for  the  seat  of  war,  his  case  was  called  im- 
mediately after  the  Conference  was  organized,  his  charac- 
ter was  passed,  and  he  was  elected  to  deacon's  orders. 
Bishop  Janes  immediately  put  some  one  in  the  chair,  and, 
passing  out  of  the  church,  ordained  him  deacon  in  front 
of  the  church,  and  gave  him  his  blessing.  He  shouldered 
his  knapsack  and  departed.  During  the  three  years  of 
the  war  he  was  in  active  service,  and  faithfully  served  his 
country.  On  his  return  he  fell  into  the  ranks,  and  has 
given  twenty  years  of  faithful  service  in  the  Conference. 
His    health,  however,  was    greatly   impaired    by  his   ex- 


ANNALS  OF  1860-5.  369 

posure  in  the  army,  and  he  has  been  compelled,  greatly 
beloved  by  his  brethren,  to  retire  from  active  work. 

During  the  year  Rev.  Samuel  Anderson  died.  He  was 
among  the  first  preachers  in  America  to  the  Scandinavian 
people.  He  was  a  scholar,  and  could  readily  speak  four 
or  five  languages.  After  devoting  several  years  to  faith- 
ful work  among  his  countrymen,  he  died,  saying:  "It  is 
good  to  be  near  Jesus." 

The  north  line  of  the  Conference  having  been  placed 
farther  south  than  it  was  intended,  it  was  found  that  the 
charges  of  Viroqua,  Newton,  and  New  Brook ville  were 
cut  in  two  by  the  arrangement;  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  confer  with  the  Northwest  Wisconsin  Conference,  so 
that  by  mutual  consent,  until  the  next  General  Confer- 
ence the  north  line  of  Vernon  County  should  be  the  line 
of  division.  This  was  effected,  and  the  above  charges 
were  served  by  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference.    . 

Previous  to  this  time  the  amount  that  each  preacher 
should  receive  of  financial  support  was  uniform,  and  was  fixed 
by  the  law  of  the  Church.  This  law  allowed  him,  if  married, 
$200,  and  for  each  child  under  seven  years  of  age  $16 ; 
from  seven  to  fourteen,  $24  yearly;  after  which  the  chil- 
dren's claim  ceased.  This  plan  was  known  by  the  general 
name  of  "quarterage  claim."  In  addition  to  this,  the 
Discipline  made  it  the  duty  of  the  Quarterly  Conference 
of  each  charge  to  fix  the  amount  of  "  table  expenses"  for 
their  preacher  and  his  family,  which,  added  to  the  quarter- 
age claim,  fixed  the  salary  of  the  preacher  for  the  year. 
By  this  arrangement  a  more  equal  adjustment  of  salary 
prevailed,  as  it  was  graded  by  the  number  of  claimants  in  the 
preacher's  family.  At  this  Conference,  however,  we  have 
the  new  plan  inaugurated,  which  is  substantially  the  same 
as  at  the  present,  requiring  the  Quarterly  Conference  to  fix 
the  salary  of  their  ministers,  and  all  reference  to  "quarter- 
age" or  table  expenses  vanishes  from  the  Discipline. 

31 


370  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

During  the  .suninicr  of  this  year,  Bishop  Simpson  made 
an  unofficial  visit  to  the  Conference,  holding  informal  Dis- 
trict Conferences  in  most  of  the  districts.  His  visit  was  a 
great  blessing  to  the  Conference.  The  counsel  he  gave  to 
the  preachers  in  regard  to  methods  of  work,  the  sermons 
and  addresses  he  delivered,  were  indeed  a  benediction  to 
all.  Sucii  visits  made  by  our  chief  pastors  at  other  times 
than  during  the  hurry  and  business  (jf  an  Annual  Con- 
ference would  be  of  incalculable  value  to  the  Church. 

The  Conference  of  1861  met  in  the  city  of  Madison, 
Bishoj)  Baker  presiding.  The  Conference  held  its  session 
in  the  Ass(!mbly  (chamber  in  the  capitol,  having  the  com- 
mittee-rooms of  llic  caj)it()l  at  its  disposal,  which  was  a 
great  accommodation.  F.  S.  Houghowout,  W.  H.  Palmer, 
and  James  Temby,  having  eidisted  in  the  army,  asked  for 
locations,  which  were  granted.  Only  three  were  admitted 
on  trial,  all  of  whom  in  a  few  years  retired  from  the  work. 
Nelson  Green,  a  most  excellent,  sweet-spirited  brother  was 
transferred  to  the  Northwest  Indiana  (Conference,  from 
which  he  came  a  few  years  previously.  A.  J^runson  and 
H.   Langley  were  ap])()inted  as  chaplains  in  the  army. 

The  eighth  session  of  the  (/onference  coiiv(!ned  in  Dodge- 
ville,  Septend)er  4,  18()2,  Bishop  Janes  presiding.  Dur- 
ing this  Conference,  as  before  stated,  a  company  of  soldiers 
left  for  the  seat  of  wai-.  Another  company  was  recruiting 
in  the  place.  The  piil)lic  mind  was  much  excited  and  un- 
settled;  but  the  Conference  had  a  peaceful  session,  and  the 
preachers  went  to  their  work  to  more  fully,  if  possible, 
infuse  a  spirit  of  patriotism  and  save  souls. 

In  the  statistical  report  of  this  year  a  column  was  de- 
voted ill  the  published  Minutes  to  show  the  nundier  of 
members  from  each  charge  who  had  enlisted  in  the  army 
to  put  down  the  fearful  rebellion.  The  returns  were  very 
im|)erfect,  and  many  who  had  enlisted  were  not  enumer- 
ated ;     but     the    re})ort    shows   that     in    the    Conference, 


.1  A^iV.  1 LS  0  F  /SSO-5.  .S  7 1 

which,  as  befoir  stated,  only  (.'iiihrac'cHl  eleven  counties  o\' 
the  State,  from  Madison  District  tliere  had  enlisted  7'>, 
Mineral  Point  District  68,  Point  Blurt' District  43,  Platte- 
ville  District  84,  an(i  Prairie  du  Chien  District  19 — a 
total  of  28i).  The  nicMnbership  of  the  Conference  at  this 
time  was  a  little  short  of  seven  thousand,  which,  when  we 
deduct  the  women  and  minors,  leaves  a  very  favorable  show- 
ing in  favor  of  loyalty  and  patriotism  in  the  Conference. 

Six  preachers  were  received  on  trial  at  this  Conference, 
only  two  of  whom  are  now  found  in  our  ranks-  fF.  O. 
Searls,  of  whom  mention  has  been  made  elsewhere,  and 
James  Evans.  This  dear  brother  had,  previous  to  his  com- 
ing among  us,  done  several  years  of  eHective  work  in  the 
Primitive  Methodist  (liurch  in  this  State.  Since  became 
among  us  he  has  done  most  excellent  work  on  several 
of  our  best  ap}>ointin(>nts.  His  large  family  have  grown 
up  around  hinj,  a  credit  to  their  parents,  and  a  blessiug 
to  others.  Several  of  his  sons  are  graduates  of  Lawrence 
University.  One  of  them  is  now  district  attorney  of  Sauk 
County,  another  an  etticient  and  successful  teacher,  while 
still  another,  Thos.  M. ,  united  with  the  Conference,  and 
labored  with  us  six  years,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the 
Upi)er  Iowa  C'onference,  in  which  he  is  tilling  with  suc- 
cess some  of  the  best  a))pointments.  His  daughters  are 
also  equally  eminent,  but  of  whom  our  space  will  not 
permit  us  to  speak.  Such  a  family  is  an  honor  to  ])arents, 
and  a  blessing  to  humanity. 

During  this  year,  by  order  of  the  General  Conference  of 
18G0,  a  vote  was  taken  of  the  male  members  of  the  Church 
over  twenty-one  years  of  age  on  "lay  rei)resentation  in  the 
General  Conference."  The  result  of  the  vote  was  as  follows  : 
Ministry — 1 1  for,  45  against ;  laity — 280  for,  and  500 against. 

At  this  Conference,  Wm.  Mullen,  H.  Chadeayne,  and 
W.  H.  Kellogg  were  readmitted,  the  latter  only  being  now 
in  the  Conference.     After  laboring  with  acceptability  for 


372  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

six  years,  he  located.  In  1870  he  was  again  readmitted, 
and  remained  effective  ten  years,  when  he  again  located. 
In  1884  he  was  again  readmitted,  and  was  appointed  to  the 
Ellsworth  charge,  but  his  health  failing,  he  did  not  go  to 
the  charge.  At  the  ensuing  Conference  he  was  given  a 
superannuated   relation,  which  he  still  sustains. 

The  ninth  session  of  the  Conference  was  held  at  Lodi, 
September  2,   1863,  Bishop  Simpson  presiding. 

Among  those  received  on  trial  were  B.  C.  Hammond, 
who,  previous  to  his  reception,  had  served  as  chaplain  of 
the  Fifth  Wisconsin  Infantry.  He  remained  in  the  Con- 
ference five  years,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Upper 
Iowa  Conference.  He  is  now  chaplain  in  the  United  States 
army,  and   a  member  of  the   Utah   Mission   Conference. 

Christopher  Bushby  was  a  young  man  of  fine  parts,  and 
a  brilliant  speaker.  He  labored  in  the  Conference  thir 
teen  years,  filling  some  of  the  most  important  appointments, 
to  the  satisfaction  of  tne  people,  when  he  w^as  transferred 
to  the  Rock  River  River  Conference.  At  his  first  appoint- 
ment he  was  suddenly  taken  sick,  and  died  ;  and  thus  his 
''sun  went  down  while  it  was  yet  day." 

H.  D.  Jencks  is  the  only  one  of  this  class  wlio  remains 
effective  in  the  Conference.  He  has  been  doiug  full  work 
for  twenty-six  years.  He  is  well  known  for  his  strong 
anti-saloon  principles,  and  is  always  in  demand  as  a  speaker 
and  vigorous  advocate  of  prohibition.  His  work  cm  his 
charges  has  been  owned  of  God  in  many  revivals  of  religion. 
He  is  still  hale  and  vigorous,  and  is  the  present  faithful 
missionary  treasurer  of  the  Conference. 

At  this  Conference  charges  were  preferred  against  O.  B. 
Knudson,  a  Norwegian  brother,  arising  out  of  the  fact  that, 
having  awakened  among  his  people  a  great  interest  in  mis- 
sionary contributions,  so  that  many  of  them  put  their  ear  and 
finger  rings  into  the  missionary  collection,  he  had  appropri- 
ated some  of  the  money  that  he  sold  them  for  to  his  own  use, 


ANNALS  OF  1860-5.  373 

and  was  therefore  guilty  of  both  dishonesty  aud  lying- 
This  alleged  crime  had  been  committed  on  one  of  the 
Norwegian  charges  in  the  Wisconsin  Conference,  while 
Knudson  was  a  member  of  our  Conference  ;  therefore  one 
of  the  ablest  men  in  that  Conference,  in  behalf  of  the 
Church,  came  to  prosecute  the  charges.  A  select  number 
of  nine  was  appointed  to  try  the  case,  with  a  chairman  ap- 
pointed by  the  bishop  and  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the  Con- 
ference. When  the  case  was  opened,  the  counsel  for  the 
accused  pleaded  for  a  dismissal  of  the  case  on  account  of  the 
great  indefiniteness  of  the  charges  and  specifications, 
whereupon  the  presiding  officer  ruled  out  the  entire  case, 
and  dismissed  the  court.  An  appeal  was  taken  from  his 
decision  to  the  General  Conference,  and  at  its  next  ses- 
sion, in  1864,  the  following  decision  was  given  on  the  case  : 
"  That  the  select  number  appointed  to  try  accused  mem- 
bers of  an  Annual  Conference  act  in  the  case  in  the  stead 
and  with  the  powers  of  the  Conference  itself,  and  its 
chairman  is  in  the  place  of  the  bishop.  It  is  therefore 
improper  for  the  chairman  in  such  a  case  to  dismiss  a 
complaint." 

During  this  year.  Rev.  Christian  E.  Weirich  died  in 
camp  before  Vicksburg,  Mississippi.  Fourteen  years  of  his 
life  he  had  devoted  to  the  ministry  in  the  Pittsburg  Con- 
ference, and  eight  more  after  his  transfer  to  Wisconsin. 
He  also  gave  some  years  of  his  life  to  the  publication  of 
a  periodical  entitled  The  Beauty  of  Holiness.  After  serving 
several  important  charges  in  the  Conference,  in  1862  he 
was  appointed  chaplain  of  the  Twenty-third  Regiment  of 
Wisconsin* Volunteers.  After  four  months  of  untiring 
labor,  his  earthly  toils  terminated  in  his  death.  He  was 
a  good  man,  an  able  preacher,  aud  dearly  beloved  by  all 
who  knew  him.  Just  before  he  died  he  lay  some  time  as 
if  in  prayer,  then  exclaimed:  "Farewell  to  this  beautiful 
world  !      I  seem  to  hear  beautiful  bells !      This  is  death ! 


374  WEST   WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

It  is  Dot  hard  to  die,  provided  a  man  is  a  thorough  Chris- 
tian !"  Then  sweetly  and  peacefully  he  passed  heaven- 
ward. 

The  delegates  elected  to  the  General  Conference,  to 
meet  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  in  May,  1864,  were  Mat- 
thew Bennett  and  James  Lawson.  They  were  instructed 
by  the  Conference  to  seek  some  kind  of  readjustment  of 
the  boundaries  of  the  Conferences  in  the  State,  so  as  to 
relieve  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference  of  its  great  embar- 
rassment of  being  confined  in  such  narrow  limits ;  but  as 
the  Northwest  Conference  did  not  desire  any  change,  and 
the  Wisconsin  Conference  being  of  the  same  mind,  it  was 
impossible  to  accomplish  anything.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
the  Wisconsin  delegates  were  willing  to  give  us  on  a  part 
of  our  eastern  border  a  six-mile  strip,  but  as  that  would 
bring  into  our  Conference  a  seminary  already  sick  and 
about  to  die,  and  as  we  had  some  such  cases  then  on  our 
hands,  it  was  thought  best  not  to  accept  the  offer,  but  to 
continue  as  we  then  were,  and  cultivate  our  small  territory 
with  as  much  care  as  possible. 

This  General  Conference  was  held  during  probably  the 
darkest  days  of  the  Rebellion  of  the  Southern  States.  The 
Battle  of  the  Wilderness,  so  called,  was  then  being  fought. 
In  the  city  where  it  was  convened  the  excitement  was  at 
fever  height,  and  in  the  Conference  the  anxiety  was 
intense,  especially  among  the  delegates  from  the  border 
States,  many  of  whom  knew  not  what  might  befall  their 
homes  and  families  during  their  absence. 

There  was  one  member  of  the  Conference  especially 
who  was  full  of  patriotism — Rev.  Granville  Mcrody,  a  dele- 
gate from  Ohio.  He  was  a  colonel  in  the  Union  army, 
and  had  obtained  a  furlough  to  attend  his  duties  as  dele- 
gate to  the  General  Conference.  On  the  rostrum,  or  in 
the]  street  standing  on  a  dry-goods  box,  his  voice  was 
heard  urging  the  people  to  patriotism  and  devotion  to  the 


ANNALS  OF  1860-5.  375 

cause  of  the  Union.  He  had  no  sympathy  with  the  spirit 
of  rebellion  when  and  wherever  it  appeared.  During  the 
Conference  it  appeared  that  a  secretary  of  one  of  the  bor- 
der Conferences  had  joined  the  rebel  army,  and  had  taken 
the  Annual  Conference  Minutes  with  him,  whereupon 
Colonel  Moody,  claiming  that  the  Journal  of  an  Annual 
Conference  was  the  property  of  the  Chur<;h,  demanded 
that  the  Journal  of  the  General  Conference  should  say, 
"  that  said  secretary  had  stolen  them."  This  proposition 
stirred  some  of  the  border  brethren,  and  for  a  few  minutes 
there  was  a  scene  of  great  excitement  in  the  Conference, 
which,  for  the  time  being,  was  ended  by  a  premature 
adjournment  of  the  Conference  for  the  day. 

During  the  session  the  venerable  Bishop  T.  A.  Morris 
preached  his  semi-centennial  sermon  before  the  Conference. 
In  this  sermon  there  were  some  utterances  well  worthy  of 
recording  in  these  pages.  In  referring  to  the  doctrines 
generally  preached  in  other  Churches  when  he  began  his 
ministry,  he  said  :  "The  Five  Points  of  Calvinism — total 
depravity,  particular  election,  partial  redemption,  effectual 
calling,  and  infallible  perseverance — were  generally 
preached,  and  any  Church  which  did  not  subscribe 
to  these  points  of  doctrine  was  scarcely  recognized  as  a 
Church  of  God.  The  doctrine  then  generally  made  promi- 
nent was  about  as  follows:  '' If  I  was  converted,  it 
was  because  I  could  not  help  it ;  if  I  enjoy  religion,  I  do  not 
know  it ;  if  I  have  it,  I  can  not  lose  it ;  and  if  I  lose  it,  I 
never  had  it."  "In  1819,"  said  he,  "  I  was  treasurer  of  the 
Missionary  Society  of  the  Ohio  Conference,  which  embraced 
the  States  of  Ohio,  Virginia,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and 
Michigan.  During  that  year,  from  that  entire  region,  the 
total  amount  of  missionary  money  was  only  nineteen  dollars 
and  a  few  cents."  Said  he,  "I  had  been  a  traveling 
preacher  four  years  before  I  saw  a  Sabbath-school,  and  the 
first  I  saw  was  in  connection  with  a  Presbyterian  Church.    I 


376  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

visited  it,  thought  it  to  be  a  good  thing,  and  I  took  my 
daughter,  introduced  her  to  the  superintendent,  and  she 
became  a  member  of  the  school." 

The  tenth  session  of  the  Conference  was  held  in  Mau- 
ston  in  1864,  Bishop  Kingsley  presiding. 

Two  only  were  received  on  trial — Edward  McGinley, 
who  was  effective  twenty  years,  and  a  superannuate  for  two 
years.  S.  S.  Benedict  was  the  other  received  at  this  session. 
He  graduated  with  honors  from  the  State  University  of  Wis- 
consin in  1856,  and  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  1859. 
For  eight  years  he  taught  in  various  academies  and  high- 
schools,  and  spent  some  time  in  reading  law  with  a  view  of 
entering  the  profession.  In  1864  he  took  charge  of  Brun- 
son  Institute,  and  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Conference. 
He  has  given  tw'enty-five  years  of  faithful  service  to  the 
Church,  and  is  still  doing  full  work  in  the  Conference.  He 
has  also  well  served  the  Conference  as  its  secretary  for  seven 
sessions.  He  is  an  able  preacher,  discreet  and  careful,  as 
well  as  intensely  conscientious  in  all  he  does. 

At  this  Conference  the  Scandinavian  charges,  which 
had,  up  to  the  present,  been  connected  with  the  different  dis- 
tricts in  the  Conference,  were  made  into  a  separate  district 
embracing  six  charges,  and  O.  P.  Peterson  appointed  as 
presiding  elder.  They  reported  at  the  end  of  the  year  238 
members  and  5  probationers. 

Three  deaths  of  members  of  the  Conference  occurred 
this  year.  Rev.  Washington  Wilcox  died  in  Baraboo, 
August  23, 1864.  In  his  twenty-third  year  he  united  with 
the  New  Hampshire  Conference.  In  1846  he  was  transferred 
to  the  Illinois  Conference,  and  was  one  of  the  early  preach- 
ers at  Galena,  Dubuque,  and  Mineral  Point.  He  was 
thirty-four  years  effective,  eleven  of  which  he  served  as  pre- 
siding elder.  He  was  strong  in  debate,  powerful  as  a 
preacher,  strict  as  a  disciplinarian,  and  punctual  in  duty. 
He  lived  well,  and  died  exclaiming:    "All  is  well!    The 


ANNALS  OF  1860-5.  377 

Lord  is  my  portion,  portion,  portion!"  His  companion, 
Caroline  Wilcox,  survived  him  nineteen  years.  All  who 
knew  her  bear  witness  ^o  her  perfect  sincerity  and  fidelity 
in  her  Christian  life.  As  long  as  she  was  able  she  was 
found  in  her  place  in  the  sanctuary  and  social  meetings. 
During  a  long  cancerous  affection  she  suffered  great  physical 
pain,  but  patience  had  in  her  its  "  perfect  work."  Having 
no  children,  she  distributed  among  her  Christian  friends  her 
small  effects  as  simple  tokens  of  her  regard  and  esteem ; 
then  arranging  for  her  interment,  she  requested  that  what 
was  left  should  be  given  to  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  which  amounted  to  about  four  hundred  dollars. 
Her  work  then  appeared  to  be  done,  and  when  near  her  end 
she  said:  "God  has  been  to  me  a  father,  husband,  friend, 
sustaining  and  helping;  his  word  is  the  food  of  my  soul; 
in  his  hands  I  trust  myself;  he  is  the  strength  of  my  heart ; 
it  will  be  well  with  me." 

Rev.  John  M.  Springer  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  May 
28,  1864.  He  was  another  son  of  the  venerable  Elihu 
Springer.  After  seven  years  of  effective  service,  he 
was  drafted  into  the  army,  and  was  immediately  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor  of  Wisconsin  chaplain  of  the 
Third  Regiment  AVisconsin  Veteran  Volunteers.  During 
an  engagement  in  Georgia  the  captain  and  first  and  second 
lieutenants^  fell  in  battle.  Brother  Springer,  seeing  the 
emergency,  seized  the  lieutenant's  sword,  and  led  the 
company  to  the  charge,  when  immediately  he  was  shot. 
and  one  of  his  limbs  fearfully  shattered.  He  lingered 
along  in  the  hospital  until  May  28th,  when  he  suddenly 
raised  up  in  bed,  and  said:  "I  am  dying!  Good-bye. 
Tell  my  friends  I  die  in  the  Lord."  He  then  sank  back 
upon  the  bed,  closed  his  eyes,  placed  his  hands  upon  his 
breast,  and  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  in  the  twenty-eighth  year  of 
his  age. 

Rev.  S.  D.  Bassenger  died  in  Avoca,  August  31, 1864, 


378  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

He  had  been  seven  years  in  the  Conference.     When  dying 
he  exclaimed:   "All  is  well!" 

By  order  of  the  General  Conference  a  vote  was  taken 
at  this  session  on  changing  the  General  Rule  on  Slavery,  so 
as  to  have  it  read,  "  Slaveholding,  buying  or  selling  slaves." 
The  result  of  the  vote  was,  forty -five  voted  to  concur,  and 
none  against  it.  So  overwhelming  was  this  vote  in  favor  of 
the  change  in  the  Annual  Conferences  that  the  future 
editions  of  the  Discipline  contained  the  amended  rule,  and 
"slaveholding"  forever  ceased  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church — not,  however,  before  it  had  cost  the  sacrifice 
of  many  precious  lives,  amid  tears  and  suffering  and  blood. 

During  this  year,  notwithstanding  the  excitement  of 
war,  an  increase  of  five  hundred  and  ninety-three  members 
was  reported  in  the  Conference. 

By  order  of  the  General  Conference  of  1864,  the 
names  and  addresses  of  the  local  preachers  in  the  Confer- 
ence were  this  year  printed  in  the  Annual  Conference 
Minutes,  which  has  been  continued  to  the  present.  The 
first  enrollment  contains  114  in  the  West  Wisconsin, 
and  38  in  the  Northwest  Wisconsin  Conferences — total, 
152.  Of  this  number,  7  were  Scandinavians.  Of  the 
number  found  on  the  list  in  1864,  only  nine  now  remain  ; 
viz.;  George  Bonham,  John  U.  Baker,  William  Harvey, 
Robert  Osborne,  J.  T.  Pryor,  H.  V.  Train,  John  Jane, 
John  Whitworth,  and  Wm.  Egbert. 

Methodism  in  Wisconsin  and  through  the  entire  con- 
nection is  greatly  indebted  to  the  noble,  persevering,  and 
gratuitious  work  done  by  its  local  preachers,  which,  when 
systematically  used,  is  a  great  help  to  the  itinerant  min- 
ister. There  are  at  present  only  107  local  preachers  em- 
ployed on  this  field,  and  it  is  to  be  feared  that  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  is  losing  much  influence  for  good 
by  permitting  this  arm  of  the  service  to  rest,  which  has 
been  so  signally  owned  of  God  in  the  past. 


ANNALS  OF  1S60-5.  379 

The  next  session  was  held  in  Brodhead  in  September, 
1865,  Bishop  Thomson  presiding. 

Six  were  admitted  on  trial,  of  which  only  two  are  at 
present  in  the  Conference. 

W.  W.  Wheatou  has  been  for  twenty-six  years  effective. 
He  is  aa  able  writer  and  a  strong  preacher,  and,  although 
afflicted  with  deafness,  he  has  nevertheless  done  good  work 
in  our  Zion. 

G.  W.  Case  also  started  in  the  work  this  year,  and  was 
appointed  principal  of  Brimson  Institute,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  After  that,  on  account  of  feeble  health,  he  be- 
came supernumerary  for  one  year.  He  then  began  his 
work  in  the  regular  itinerancy,  in  which  he  has  eminently 
been  blest  and  owned  of  God.  During  the  twenty-three 
years  of  his  effective  work,  in  which  he  has  been  presid- 
ing elder  for  six  years,  he  has  been  in  every  regard  a  suc- 
cess, several  monuments  of  his  labor  in  the  form  of  beau- 
tiful church  edifices  and  parsonages  being  found  in  the 
Conference ;  and  he  has  a  w^arm  place  in  the  affections  of 
the   people   on  the    charges  where    he    has    been   pastor. 

John  H.  Johnson,  a  young  Norwegian  brother,  was  also 
admitted.  He  was  a  finely  educated  young  man,  and 
after  preaching  among  his  people  in  AVisconsin  for  sev- 
eral years,  was  transferred  to  the  Norway  Conference. 
He  was  the  delegate  from  that  Conference  to  the 
last  General  Conference,  and  is  now  presiding  elder  in 
Norway. 

For  several  years  a  few  of  the  old  ministers  and  mem- 
bers had  opposed  the  use  of  instrumental  music  in  the 
sanctuary  ;  so  at  this  Conference  a  '*  Committee  on  Music  " 
was  appointed.  In  their  report,  which  was  adopted,  they 
favor  its  use,  denouncing  any  one,  whether  minister  or 
layman,  old  or  young,  who  applies  terms  of  contempt  on 
instruments  so  used  in  divine  worship,  and  that  the  ques- 
tion of  choir  or   congregational    singing  should   be  settled 


380  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

by  the   light   of  expediency,  using   that   which    will    best 
promote  the  glory  of  God  and   the    salvation  of  souls. 

Rev.  Alfred  Brunson  preached  his  semi-centennial  ser- 
mon before  the  Conference,  in  which  he  reviewed  his  min- 
istry for  fifty  years,  and  contrasted  the  Church  of  the 
present  to  what  it  was  a  half  century  in  the  past. 


'^% 


J^^ 


Rev.  J.  E.  IRISH,  D.  D. 


Rev.  JAMES  EVANS. 


Rev.    JOHN   STEELE. 


Rev.    G.   W.   CASE. 


ANNALS  OF  1866-7.  381 


CHAPTER  VI. 

WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE,  1866-7. 

THE    twelfth    session   of  the    Conference  was  held  at 
Hazel   Green,  August  29,    1866,  Bishop    Scott   pre- 
siding. 

A  decided  improvement  appears  this  year  in  the  printed 
Minutes,  in  publishing  for  the  first  time  a  synopsis  of  the 
daily  sessions  of  the  Conference. 

A  question  of  ecclesiastical  law  came  before  the  bishop 
in  his  cabinet-work  at  this  session.  Rev.  J.  C.  Aspinwall's 
terra  as  presiding  elder  on  the  Platteville  District  having 
expired,  the  preachers  of  that  district  w'ere  about  unani- 
mous in  asking  for  a  certain  brother  as  his  successor.  On 
presentation  of  his  name  in  the  cabinet  of  the  bishop,  it 
was  stated  that  this  brother  had  served  a  full  terra  as  pre- 
siding elder  only  four  years  before,  on  part  of  the  then 
Platteville  District ;  was  it  not,  therefore,  the  same  dis- 
trict? If  so,  it  would  be  contrary  to  the  law  of  the  Church 
to  appoint  him  to  that  district.  The  bishop  decided  that 
if  there  was  at  that  time  a  majority  of  charges  on  the 
Platteville  District  over  which  this  brother,  during  the 
period  referred  to,  had  presided,  he  \vould  consider  it  the 
same  district,  and  would  not  appoint  him  ;  but  if  contra- 
riwise, he  would  appoint  him.  A  majority  of  one  charge 
appeared   against  him,  and   he  was  not  appointed. 

Six  at  this  Conference  were  admitted  on  trial,  three  of 
whom  are  still  in  the  Conference.  E.  W.  Allen  was  in 
the  effective  ranks  for  eighteen  years.  He  was  a  very  ac- 
ceptable and  useful  laborer,  a  man  of  excellent  spirit,  and 


382  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

universally  beloved  by  all.  He  is  now  a  supernumerary, 
residing  at  Maukato,  Kansas.  R.  Peugilly  has  given  twen- 
ty-three years  of  faithful  service,  in  the  prime  of  his  days, 
to  the  Church,  serving  on  some  of  the  most  important 
charges,  and  has  been  every  way  efficient  in  the  work. 
W.  R.  Irish  joined  the  Conference  when  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  and  for  twenty-one  years  has  done  excellent 
service,  four  of  which  he  was  presiding  elder.  He  is  an 
able  preacher,  sought  after  and  beloved  by  the  people. 
Although  yet  in  his  prime  he  has  been  obliged  to  rest,  and 
is  now  supernumerary. 

The  General  Conference  of  1864  having  organized  the 
"Church  Extension  Society,"  a  committee  was  appointed 
at  this  session  on  this  subject,  who  reported  favorably  on 
the  enterprise,  urged  liberal  collections,  and  that  it  should 
be  made  a  prominent  object  in  the  centenary  offerings. 
They  also  reported  and  spread  upon  the  Journal  of  Confer- 
ence a  circular  just  issued  by  the  Parent  Society,  which 
stated  that  the  "Parent  Society  had  appropriated  $3,000, 
payable  in  quarterly  installments,  to  the  West  Wisconsin 
Conference,  and  urged  the  Conference  Board  to  be  careful 
and  discriminating  in  regard  to  its  disbursements."  At 
the  same  time  they  stated  that  "  the  ability  of  the  Parent 
Society  to  give  that  amount  to  the  Conference  depended 
on  the  contributions  it  received  from  the  Churches."  The 
Conference  Board  either  greatly  overlooked  the  qualifying 
clause,  or  had  such  faith  in  the  Church  filling  up  the 
treasury  of  the  Parent  Board,  that  they  made  a  distribu- 
tion of  the  entire  $3,000;  and  the  consequence  was  that 
great  expectations  were  raised  in  those  places  to  which  do- 
nations had  been  recommended,  which  were  doomed,  on 
account  of  the  shortage  of  funds,  to  great  disappointment. 
Thus  the  commencement  of  this  valuable  society  was  not 
at  all  flattering  in  the  Conference.  The  Parent  Society 
after  this  adopted  the  pro  rata  system,  giving  to  each  Con- 


ANNALS  OF  1866-7.  383 

ference  of  the  amount  appropriated  in  proportion  to  the 
amount  apportioned  and  raised. 

This  being  the  Centenary  year  of  American  Methodism, 
a  large  committee  of  ministers  and  laymen  was  appointed, 
a  plan  was  adopted  by  the  Conference  for  its  proper  ob- 
servance, and  objects  specified  to  which  Centenary  thank- 
offerings  should  be  made. 

The  report  of  E.  Tasker,  Conference  missionary  treas- 
urer, showed  that  $3,864  had  been  raised  in  the  Conference 
this  year  for  missions — being  a  little  over  fifty  cents  per 
member.  This  was  a  good  record,  and  we  are  only  sorry 
that  the  Conference  has  not  retained  the  standard  to  the 
present  time. 

The  report  adopted  on  the  "State  of  the  Country" 
indicates  the  prevailing  feeling  of  the  times  in  regard  to 
the  treatment  of  rebels.     It  is  as  follows: 

^^ Resolved,  That  in  our  view  the  policy  and  measures 
of  the  President  in  regard  to  rebels  are  highly  detrimental 
to  the  permanent  peace  and  prosperity  of  the  country,  and 
that  our  only  hope,  under  God,  for  our  safety  is  in  Con- 
gress and  the  patriotism  of  the  people." 

The  AVest  Wisconsin  Conference  had  now  reached  its 
first  decade.  During  that  period  about  seven  hundred  mem- 
bers, by  the  organization  of  the  Northwest  Conference, 
had  been  transferred  to  that  territory.  The  present  mem- 
bership, including  probationers,  was  7,400,  showing  a  gain 
during  ten  years  of  2,351.  The  missionary  collections  had 
averaged  nearly  two  thousand  dollars  annually,  or  thirty 
cents  per  member  during  the  decade.  This  is  a  very  cred- 
itable showing,  especially  when  we  remember  the  small- 
ness  of  the  field  embraced  in  the  Conference. 

The  next  Conference  was  held  at  Prairie  du  Chien, 
September,  1867,  Bishop  Simpson  presiding. 

At  this  Conference  the  bishop  preached  out  of  doors 
one  ot  his  powerful  sermons,  from  Romans  i,  16. 


384  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

SeveD  were  received  on  trial,  only  one  of  whom  re- 
mains in  the  Conference.  John  Steele  has  been  twenty- 
two  years  effective  and  efficient.  In  1873  he  was  appointed 
missionar}^  to  New  Mexico,  where  he  remained  six  years 
as  superintendent  of  the  mission.  He  was  successful  in 
his  work  while  there,  and  is  still  doing  excellent  work  in 
the  Conference. 

W.  E.  Huntington  was  also  admitted.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  the  State  University.  He  remained  in  the 
Conference  three  years,  w^heu,  to  further  prosecute  his 
studies,  he  went  to  Boston  University,  expecting  to  return 
when  he  had  completed  his  education ;  but  he  has  failed 
to  do  so,  as  we  feared  he  might  when  he  left  us.  He  is 
now  one  of  the  professors  in  Boston  University.  This  is 
only  one  of  the  many  instances  in  our  history  as  a  Con- 
ference which,  on  account  of  the  smallness  of  our  territory, 
and,  consequently,  the  comparatively  few  places  of  prom- 
inence in  it,  of  our  losing  talented  young  men  who  have 
gone  to  more  promising  fields.  Another  reason  has  doubt- 
less been  the  reflections,  by  far  too  often  made  by  a  very 
limited  number  among  us  in  regard  to  college  graduates, 
but  which  we  are  glad  to  know  is  now  all  in  the  past. 

Three  died  during  the  year. 

Peter  Pearson,  who  had  been  nine  years  in  fhe  Con- 
ference, was  a  man  of  feeble  constitution,  but  emphatically 
a  good  man  and  an  able  preacher.  His  last  testimony  in 
the  Conference  love-feast  was:  "Brethren,  I  may  never 
meet  you  again  on  earth,  but  I  do  expect  to  meet  you  all 
in  heaven." 

Samuel  Dodge  died  at  Boscobel.  He  sustained  an  ef- 
fective relation  for  thirteen  years.  He  was  indefatigable  in 
his  labors,  and  most  kind  and  generous  in  his  disposition. 
A  faithful  man,  he  died  as  the  Christian  dies,  and  went  home 
to  rest  with  God.  His  companion  still  lingers  on  the  shores 
of  time,  waiting  for  the  blessed  reunion. 


ANNALS  OF  1866-7.  385 

A.  Cederholm  died  in  Sweden.  He  was  one  of  the 
early  preachers  among  his  countrymen  in  Wisconsin,  was 
sent  as  missionary  to  Sweden,  and  died  at  his  post. 

Rev.  O.  P.  Peterson,  presiding  elder  of  the  Norwegian 
District,  reported  that  they  were  laboring  among  a  people 
who  by  birth,  education,  and  confirmation,  ^vere  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church;  that  the  people  "think  it  an 
almost  unpardonable  sin  to  leave  it  and  unite  with  another 
Church,  which  they  call '  a  sect.'"  He  reported  8  churches, 
valued  at  $10,000,  and  277  members. 

The  financial  report  of  Centenary  oflferings  was  made 
to  this  Conference,  which,  although  not  a  full  show'ing,  in- 
dicates that,  in  addition  to  the  blessed  spiritual  benefits  of 
its  observance,  the  collections  by  districts  were :  From 
Madison  District,  815,569.07 ;  Mineral  Point  District, 
$17,235.20;  Kilbourn  District,  84,547.25;  Prairie  du 
Chien  District,  81,684.45;  total,  $39,035.97. 

The  total  number  of  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  the  three  Conferences  in  the  State  by 
their  returns  of  1866,  the  Centennial  year,  Avas :  Wiscon- 
sin Conference,  10,203;  West  Wisconsin,  6,337 ;  North- 
west Wisconsin,  2,573;  total,  19,113.  Church  property 
in  the  three  Conferences  was  reported  to  the  value  of 
$623,700. 

The  delegates  elected  to  the  General  Conference  were 
A.  Brunson  and  R.  Dudgeon,  with  P.  S.  Mather  and  E. 
Yocura  as  reserves. 

32 


386       NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE,  1860-7. 

THIS  ConfereDce  was  formed  by  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  1860,  and  embraced  that  portion  of  Northwest 
Wisconsin  which  had  been  for  four  years  attached  to  Min- 
nesota Conference,  and  also  the  La  Crosse  District  of  the 
West  Wisconsin  Conference. 

Its  first  session  met  at  Sparta,  September  5,  1860, 
Bishop  Scott  presiding. 

At  its  organization  twenty  ministers  were  recognized  as 
members.  T.  M.  Fullertou  was  readmitted.  He  was  born 
in  Kentucky,  June  1,  1817.  Soon  after  he  was  born  his 
mother  became  partially  insane,  and  remained  so  for  sixty 
years,  dying  in  Minnesota  in  1877.  When  he  was  in  his 
sixteenth  year  his  father  was  thrown  from  a  horse  and  was 
killed.  Thomas  was  providentially  placed  in  a  family  who 
were  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  Church, 
who  endeavored  to  train  him  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 
In  1836,  when  in  his  nineteenth  year,  he  came  to  Wiscon- 
sin, and  was  employed  as  a  salesman  at  Snake  Hollow 
(Potosi).  In  1840,  during  a  protracted  meeting  held  by 
Revs.  N.  W.  Reed  and  J.  G.  Whitford,  he  united  with 
the  Church,  and  while  yet  a  probationer  was  appointed  a 
class-leader.  He  was  licensed  to  exhort  the  same  year, 
and  was  sent  by  the  presiding  elder  to  assist  J.  G.  Whit- 
ford on  Mineral  Point  Circuit.  He  gives  the  following 
account  of  his  outfit:  "  George  Medeira,  in  whose  employ 
I  was  at  that  time,  said  to  me :   '  Go  to  my  barn,  and  take 


ANNALS  OF  1860-7.  387 

the  poDv ;  take  a  new  saddle  and  bridle  out  of  the  store, 
and  all  you  need  beside,  and  go  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.' 
The  pony  was  a  very  small  Canadian.  Charles  Crockwell 
furnished  me  with  a  pair  of  old  saddle-bags,  and  the  em- 
bryo itinerant's  outfit  was  complete."  At  a  camp-meeting 
held  near  Fayette,  July  19,  1841,  he  was  licensed  to 
preach,  and  recommended  for  admission  on  trial  in  the 
Annual  Conference.  He  had  then  been  itinerating  five 
months  as  an  exhorter.  He  joined  the  Rock  River  Con- 
ference, held  in  Platteville,  Wisconsin,  in  1841.  After 
traveling  three  years  his  health  failed,  and  he  was  super- 
annuated for  two  years.  After  this  he  was  located  for  five 
years.  In  1851  he  was  readmitted  and  stationed  at  St. 
Paul,  Minnesota.  Having  been  unexpectedly  appointed 
register  of  the  United  States  Land-office,  at  the  close  of  his 
pastorate  at  St.  Paul  he  removed  to  Stillwater,  and  again 
received  a  location.  During  the  years  he  was  residing  at 
Stillwater  he  devoted  much  time,  money,  and  influence  in 
the  interests  of  Methodism  there,  })reaching  often  himself, 
and  aiding  liberally  in  Cliurch-work.  He  was  identified 
with  the  Northwest  Wisconsin  Conference  during  the  eight 
years  of  its  existence.  Since  then,  until  his  superannua- 
tion in  1882 — a  period  of  fourteen  years,  during  seven  of 
which  he  was  presiding  elder — he  was  a  most  invaluable 
blessing  to  the  Conference  and  a  safe  administrator  of  disci- 
pline. For  several  years  he  resided  at  Brown ville,  Iowa. 
He  died  at  that  place  December  4,  1889,  beloved  and 
lamented  by  all. 

T.  C.  Golden  was  another  of  the  charter  members  of 
this  Conference.  He  was  in  the  Conference  thirteen  years, 
during  eight  of  w^hich  he  was  presiding  elder.  He  was  one 
of  the  delegates  to  the  General  Conference  of  1864,  and  was 
the  mover  of  the  resolution  by  which  a  deputation  was  sent 
to  Washington  to  wait  on  President  Lincoln,  assuring  him 
of  the  sympathy  of  the  Conference  and  the  Methodist  Epis- 


388       NOR  TH  WES  T  WISCONSIN  CONFE RENCE. 

copal  Church  in  the  great  struggle  through  which  the  Nation 
was  then  passing.  The  deputation  was  received  by  the 
President  with  great  respect  and  kindness,  and  through 
them  he  sent  to  the  General  Conference  an  autograph  letter, 
thanking  them  for  their  loyalty  and  patriotism.  In  1862 
Rev.  Golden  was  commissioned  as  chaplain  of  the  Twenty- 
fifth  Regiment  of  Wisconsin  Volunteers.  In  1867  he  located, 
and  in  a  few  years  after  died,  entering  into  his  eternal  rest. 

J.  L.  Dyer  and  Daniel  Ciingman  were  also  two  of  the 
original  members  of  this  Conference.  Both  of  them  were 
noted  for  their  pioneering  spirit  and  work.  The  former, 
after  being  on  the  frontier  for  many  years  in  Wisconsin  and 
Minnesota,  went  to  Colorado,  and  is  well  called  '*  the  Father 
of  Colorado  Methodism."  The  latter,  after  lifting  many 
Churches  out  of  debt  and  building  many  others  in  Wiscon- 
sin, went  to  Lower  California  in  1888,  to  engage  in  mission- 
work. 

This  Conference,  at  its  organization,  consisted  of  La 
Crosse  District,  T.  C.  Golden  presiding  elder ;  Galesville 
District,  J.  W.  Millour,  presiding  elder;  and  Prescott 
District,  C.  Hobart,  presiding  elder.  There  were  stationed 
38  preachers,  and  6  charges  left  to  be  supplied.  The 
total  membership  was  1,771  members  and  520  probation- 
ers. There  were  only  7  church  edifices  and  five  parson- 
ages in  the  Conference,  and  the  average  yearly  salary  of 
the  preachers  did  not  exceed  S200. 

A  resolution  was  passed  at  this  first  Conference  ex- 
pressive of  their  highest  regards  and  esteem  toward  the 
brethren  of  the  West  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota  Confer- 
ences. 

The  second  session  of  the  Conference  was  held  Septem- 
ber 26,  1861,  Bfshop  Baker  presiding. 

Four  were  admitted  on  trial.  (See  Appendix  D.)  R. 
Cobban,  C.  P.  Hackney,  J.  B  Reynolds,  and  H.  T.  Ma- 
gill,  were  received  by  transfer.     H.  T.  Magill,  after  spend- 


AXNALS  OF  I860-?:  389 

ing  oue  year  as  pastor  at  La  Crosse,  and  one  year  at  Eau 
Claire,  was  transferred  to  the  Ohio  Conference.  He, 
however,  left  in  the  State  two  sons,  Harry  P.  and  Edwin 
B.,  who  have  long  been  active  and  efficient  workers  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  La  Crosse,  both  as  trus- 
tees and  Sablmth-school  superintendents.  The  former  is 
president  of  the  Exchange  Bank  at  North  La  Crosse,  and 
the  latter  is  a  real  estate  agent.  They  are  both  active 
and  useful  members  of  the  Church. 

At  this  Conference  Galesville  District  in  name  was 
dropped,  and  Chippewa  District  was  organized,  C.  Hobart 
presiding  elder.  During  the  year,  Brother  Hobart  was 
commissioned  as  chaplain  of  the  Third  Minnesota  Regiment, 
and  Matthew  Sorin  supplied  the  district  as  presiding  elder. 

The  next  session  was  held  at  Hudson,  September 
24,  1862,  Bishop  Janes  presiding.  Two  were  received 
on  trial. 

The  vote  on  lay  representation  in  the  General  Confer- 
ence was  taken  this  year  with  the  following  result :  Laity — 
L34  against,  and  55  for  ;  Ministry — 19  against,  and  6  for. 

The  fourth  Conference  was  held  in  West  Eau  Claire, 
October  7,  1863,  Bishop  Ames  presiding. 

Four  were  admitted  on  trial.  An  increase  of  194 
members  was  reported,  and  a  small  increase  in  the  mis- 
sionary collection.  There  were  4  transfers  from  the  Con- 
ference, 34  preachers  were  stationed,  and  6  places  "left 
to  be  supplied." 

The  newness  of  the  field,  the  smallness  of  the  member- 
ship, and  the  comparatively  small  aid  from  the  Missionary 
Society,  made  this  a  hard  Conference  in  which  to  labor. 
The  average  yearly  salary  was  as  yet  only  $220,  and,  while 
some  laborers  withdrew,  there  were  those  who  remained, 
never  shrinking  from  toil  and  suffering  in  the  midst  of 
privation. 

An   appeal  was   made  at  this  Conference  to  the  Gen- 


390       NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

eral  Missionary  Committee  for  au  increased  appropriation 
to  the  Conference,  which  was  effectual,  giving  to  the  Con- 
ference a  total  of  12,200. 

The  fifth  session  of  the  Conference  was  held  at  Black 
Kiver  Falls,  September  21,  1864.  Bishop  Kingsley,  being 
sick  at  Winona,  did  not  reach  the  Conference.  Wm. 
Hamilton  was  elected  president.  This  honor  the  Confer- 
ence could  not  have  conferred  on  one  more  capa])le  and 
worthy.  Brother  Hamilton  has  labored  in  Indiana,  Wis- 
consin, and  Minnesota  for  over  thirty-three  years.  Dur- 
ing this  period  he  has  been  presiding  elder  thirteen  years. 
He  was  delegate  to  the  General  Conferences  of  1876  and 
1880.  He  now  sustains  a  superannuated  relation,  wait- 
ing, watching,  and  ready  for  the  Master  to  call  him  home. 

Thos.  Crouch  and  George  Benham  were  admitted  on 
trial.  The  former  is  still  doing  good  work  in  the  West 
Wisconsin  Conference.  The  latter  has  been  effective  for 
twenty-three  years.  He  was  long  employed  as  a  success- 
ful agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society.  The  churches 
at  Onalaska,  North  La  Crosse,  and  Fairchild  were  built 
during  his  pastorate  at  those  places.  He  is  now  a  super- 
annuate in  the  Conference. 

The  vote  of  the  Conference  was  taken  at  this  session 
on  the  change  of  the  General  Rule  on  Slavery,  so  as  to 
prohibit  slaveholding  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Twenty-three  votes  were  cast  in  the  affirmative,  and  none 
in  the  negative. 

J.  W.  Johnson  and  Isaac  E,  Springer  were  commissioned 
as  chaplains  in  the  army  in*  Wisconsin  regiments,  making 
five  ministers  in  this  small  Conference;  viz.,  Revs.  Ho- 
bart,  McKinley,  Golden,  Johnson,  and  Springer,  w^ho 
were  appointed  by  the  bishops  as  chaplains.  Dr.  Hobart 
was  transferred  to  the  Minnesota  Conference,  where  he 
has  ever  since  been  a  member.  He  still  lives,  revered  l>y 
the  entire  Methodist  Church   in    Illinois,  Wisconsin,  and 


ANNALS  OF  1860-7.  391 

Miunesota.  His  two  volumes,  ' '  History  of  Minnesota  Meth- 
odism," and  "  Recollections,"  are  most  interesting  books. 

J.  B.  Reynolds  enlisted  during  the  year  as  a  private, 
and  a  resolution  was  passed  requesting  Governor  Lewis  to 
commission  him  as  a  chaplain  in  any  regiment  without  a 
chaplain.  This  dear  brother,  after  his  i-eturn  from  the 
army,  re-entered  the  ministerial  ranks  in  the  Conference, 
where  he  remained  thirteen  years,  during  three  of  which 
he  was  presiding  elder.  He  was  transferred  in  1874  to  his 
old  Conference — Southern  Illinois — in  which  he  preached 
Jesus  only  a  few  years,  dying  in  the  prime  of  life,  but 
greatly  beloved  by  all. 

The  sixth  session  of  this  Conference  met  in  Menomo- 
uee,  September  14,  1865,  Bishop  Thomson  presiding. 

A  Committee  on  Lay  Representation  in  the  General 
Conference  was  appointed,  and  reported  favorably  on  the 
measure,  "as  soon  as  it  could  be  ascertained  that  th^ 
Church  desired  it." 

Five  were  received  on  trial.     (See  Appendix  D.) 

A.  G.  Davis  has  given  twenty-four  years  to  the  effect- 
ive Avork  in  the  Conference.  He  has  labored  with  great 
acceptability.  At  Eau  Claire,  Augusta,  Platteville,  and 
other  places  he  had  marked  success.  He  is  still  hale  and 
vigorous,  promising  many  years  of  successful  work. 

The  missionary  appropriation  was  this  year  again  in- 
creased to  a  total  of  §3,500,  which  tended  somewhat  to 
relieve  the  embarrassments  which  from  the  first  had  been 
experienced  in  this  Conference. 

The  seventh  session  met  at  Prescott,  September  12, 
1866,  Bishop  Scott  presiding. 

Six  were  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Conference.  H.  W. 
Bushnell,  one  of  the  number,  was  born  in  Barkham- 
sted.  Conn.,  in  1842.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  con- 
verted and  united  with  the  Church.  When  eighteen  he 
was  licensed  to  exhort.     He  received   a   liberal  education 


392       NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

in  the  village  high-school  and  in  Wilbraham  Seminary. 
In  1865  he  came  to  Wisconsin  and  joined  the  Conference 
on  trial.  In  1869  he  was  county  superintendent  of  schools 
in  Dunn  County.  He  has  devoted  twenty-three  years  of 
faithful  work  to  the  ministry,  and  is  now  presiding  elder 
of  the  Mission  District.  He  is  well  adapted  to  the  work, 
being  careful,  correct,  and  energetic.  James  Havens  was 
another  of  those  admitted.  With  the  exception  of  a  short 
time  spent  in  Kansas,  he  has  continued  in  the  work.  He 
is  a  faithful  and  devoted  laborer. 

Arrangements  were  made  at  this  session  to  celebrate 
throughout  the  Conference  the  Centenary  of  American 
Methodism,  and  several  objects  were  specified  to  which  the 
donations  of  the  Church  should  be  invited.  During  the 
year  there  had  been  an  increase  of  313  members  in  the 
Conference,  and  a  small  increase  in  the  missionary  contri- 
butions.    (See  Apj)endix  B.) 

The  Conference  Church  Extension  Board,  misunder- 
standing the  circular  issued  by  the  Parent  Board  of  Church 
Extension,  apportioned  the  $3,000,  which  they  understood 
to  be  at  their  disposal, to  nine  localities  in  the  Conference; 
but  on  account  of  the  smallness  of  the  collections  of  the 
Parent  Board,  but  few  of  the  places  received  at  that  time 
any  aid  from  this  society. 

The  eighth  and  last  session  of  this  Conference  met  at 
Sparta  September  12,  1867,  Bishop  Simpson  presiding. 

Henry  M.  Springer  was  admitted  on  trial.  He  is 
another  son  of  the  revered  Elihu  Springer.  Sister  Springer 
survived  her  companion  many  years,  and  resided  in  Bara- 
boo,  a  **  burning  and  shining  light."  Afterwards  she 
removed  to  Dakota,  to  which  Conference  Henry  had  been 
transferred ;  and  after  a  few  years'  residence  there,  she 
entered  into  rest.  One  daughter  still  resides  in  Baraboo — 
Mrs.  L.  Thompson.  She  is  a  devoted  Christian,  and 
active  in  all  Church-work. 


ANNALS  OF  1S60-7.  393 

At  this  Conference  only  thirty-four  preachers  were 
stationed,  being  four  less  than  at  its  organization  eight 
years  previous,  indicating  the  hardships  incident  to  this 
field  of  labor.  Many  ministers  drifted  into  other  more 
favored  Conferences.  The  men  of  this  Conference  un- 
doubtedly performed  labors  and  endured  privations  un- 
known to  any  other  Conference  in  the  connection  not  in  a 
state  of  war  ;  yet,  with  the  heroic  spirit  of  the  ft\thers,  they 
gave  themselves  to  their  work,  and  God  was  with  them. 
During  the  eight  years  these  men  of  toil  and  sacrifice  had 
increased  the  membership  over  one  thousand,  erected 
eighteen  churches  at  a  cost  of  $40,500,  and  sixteen  parson- 
ages at  a  cost  of  $10,000. 

T.  M.  FuUerton  was  elected  delegate  to  the  General 
Conference,  and  C.  P.  Hackey,  reserve. 

The  report  of  the  Centenary  offerings  made  at  this  Con- 
ference shows,  in  addition  to  the  rich  spiritual  benefits, 
that  for  the  various  local  and  connectional  objects  $15,231 
had  been  raised  in  the  Conference,  much  of  this  amount 
being  for  the  erection  of  churclics  and  paying  debts  on 
churches  and  parsonages  within  the  Conference,  while  each 
of  the  objects  named  received  more  or  less  attention. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  during  the  eight  years  of  the 
existence  of  this  Conference  no  minister  was  expelled  and 
none  died. 

For  further  information  in  regard  to  this  Conference 
the  reader  is  referred  to  the  various  valuable  Appendices 
of  the  AVest  and  Northwest  Wisconsin  Conferences  at  the 
close  of  the  volume. 

33 


394  WEST  WJSCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE,  1868-73. 

THE  General  Conference  of  1868  changed  the  bounda- 
ries of  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference  by  transfer- 
ring the  whole  of  Northwest  Wisconsin  to  it,  except 
the  counties  of  Douglas,  Bayfield,  and  Ashland,  which 
were  attached  to  the  Minnesota  Conference.  This  ar- 
rangement relieved  the  Conference  by  opening  out  a  large 
field  for  cultivation  ;  and  if  the  missionary  appropiation 
had  only  been  continued  as  it  had  existed  for  several 
years,  the  growth  of  the  Conference  would  have  been  much 
greater.  At  the  very  first  Conference  in  1868,  the  mis- 
sionary appropriation  was  reduced  from  $7,425  (the  amount 
in  1867  to  the  two  (Conferences)  to  $4,700,  showing  a  re- 
duction of  missionary  aid  in  one  year  of  $2,725  for  the  same 
field.  The  next  year  it  was  reduced  to  $4,000,  in  1875 
to  $3,000,  and  in  1877  to  $1,500,  remaining  at  that  amount 
for  several  years.  This  arrangement  greatly  crippled  the 
work,  and  is  one  of  the  reasons  why  the  increase  of  our 
Zion  has  not  been  larger.  It  is  proper,  however,  to  state  that 
the  withdrawing  of  funds  from  this  field  was  largely  due  to 
the  depressed  condition  of  the  General  Missionary  treasury. 
The  fourteenth  session  of  the  West  Wisconsin  Confer- 
ence met  at  Mazomanie,  September  28,  1868,  Bishop 
Ames  presiding.  Rev.  Isaac  E.  Springer,  secretary  of  the 
late  Northwest  Conference,  presented  a  certificate  of  the 
members  of  that  Conference,  and   a  vote  of  greeting  and 


,,^«^... 

m 

0- 

:S'€ 

f 

.M 

"m 

».-,. 

Rev.  WM.   HAW. 


Rev.   JOHN   HAW. 


Rev.    S.    S.   BENEDICT. 


Mr.   D.  J.    SPAULDING. 


ANNALS  OF  186S-73.  395 

welcome  was  unanimously  passed  to  the  brethren  coming 
from  that  Conference. 

At  this  Conference  one  brother  was  charged  with  im- 
morality, and  the  case  referred  to  his  presiding  elder  for 
trial.  Another  was  charged  with  refusing  to  go  to  his  ap- 
pointment, and  as  he  was  not  at  the  Conference  to  an- 
swer the  charge,  he  was  ''suspended  until  he  shouhl  give 
satisfaction  to  the  Conference." 

Twelve  were  admitted  on  trial.  (See  Appendix  D.) 
E.  E.  Clough  was  effective  twenty  years  in  the  Confer- 
ence. His  appointments  embraced  several  of  the  most  im- 
portant charges,  and  for  four  years  he  was  presiding  elder. 
He  was  successful  in  his  work,  the  Churches  at  Chippewa 
Falls  and  West  Eau  Claire  being  monuments  to  his  per- 
severance. In  1888,  on  account  of  family  sickness,  he 
was  transferred  to  the  Dakota  Conference,  and  stationed  at 
Watertown.  •  He  was  elected  representative  to  the  Consti- 
tutional Convention  of  South  Dakota  in  1889. 

W.  E.  Conway  served  in  the  effective  work  for  ten 
years,  and  has  been  eleven  years  superannuated  ;  his  health 
is  still  poor. 

G.  D.  Brown  has  made  no  break  in  his  work  for 
twenty-one  years.  His  field  has  been  in  the  northern  re- 
gions of  the  Conference,  on  many  hard  charges ;  but  he 
has  left  his  mark  for  God  and  the  Church  at  every  place, 
and  has  witnessed  many  powerful  revivals  of  religion.  He 
expects,  through  grace,  to  sing  all  the  way  up  to  the  golden 
gates  of  paradise. 

W.  C.  Ross,  who  was  received  from  the  Protestant 
Methodist  Church,  has  been  twenty  one  years  in  the  Con- 
ference, sixteen  of  which  he  was  effective  and  five  super- 
numerary. His  work  has  been  largely  on  new  and  hard 
fields,  where  the  support  has  been  small,  but  he  has  "  en- 
dured as  seeing  Him  who  is  invisible." 

J.  T.  Bryan  has  also  been  the  same  length  of  time  on 


396  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

the  list  and  able  to  say  :  "  Here  am  I,  send  me!"  He  is 
a  man  of  a  "meek  and  quiet  spirit,"  and  greatly  beloved 
by  the  people  of  his  charges. 

T.  J.  Lewis  is  another  of  the  number  of  the  recruits 
of  this  year.  His  record  of  twenty-one  years  of  diligent 
work  is  unbroken.  His  now  sainted  father  was  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  Wisconsin,  preaching  early  in  the  forties 
in  Southern  Wisconsin.  Brother  Lewis  gave  a  son  of 
promise  to  the  ministry,  who  was  suddenly  removed  in 
1888  from  his  earthly  labors  by  death. 

During  the  year  two  of  the  members  of  the  Confer- 
ence died.  Rev.  Wm.  Summersides,  who  had  been  over 
fifty  years  in  the  itinerancy,  was  sent  out  at  an  early  day 
as  a  missionary  from  England  to  America  by  the  Primi- 
tive Methodist  Church.  After  laboring  in  Pennsylvania 
and  New  England  for  some  years  with  but  little  success, 
he  became  convinced,  as  he  often  expressed  himself,  "  that 
the  work  he  sought  to  accomplish  could  be  done  better 
and  at  less  expense  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church ;" 
he  therefore  united  with  that  Church.  His  work  in  Wis- 
consin continued  twelve  years,  when  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
one,  on  the  12th  of  May,  1868,  at  Hazel  Green,  he  passed 
from  earthly  toil  to  the  rest  of  heaven. 

James  Cady  died  at  Tomah,  August  7,  1868.  His 
ministerial  work  had  been  both  in  Wisconsin  and  Minne- 
sota. He  was  converted  under  the  labors  of  Jas.  Law- 
son,  'Mived  well,  and  died  in  peace." 

The  Conference  was  divided  into  eight  districts,  one  of 
them  being  a  Norwegian  District.  One  hundred  preachers 
were  stationed,  and  21  places  left  to  be  supplied.  The 
total  membership  of  the  Conference  was  10,514,  being  an 
increase  of  810  for  the  year. 

During  the  year  application  was  made  to  the  State 
Legislature  to  amend  the  ''  Act  of  Incorporation  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church   in  the  State  of  Wisconsin," 


ANNALS  OF  186S-73.  397 

so  as  to  do  away  with  the  Decessity  (which  the  old  act  re- 
quired) of  recording  the  uames  of  the  trustees  of  our  Church 
property  after  each  election.  The  old  act  was  accordingly 
repealed,  and  a  new  "Act  of  Incorporation"  passed  and 
approved,  March  5,  1868,  which  was  essentially  the  same 
as  the  old  act,  except  the  clause  requiring  the  recording 
of  names,  thus  making  all  our  trustees  legal  without  re- 
cording the  names,  provided  they  are  "  appointed  according 
to  the  Discipline  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church." 

The  next  session  was  held  at  Portage  City,  October  4, 
1869,  Bishop  Scott  presiding. 

H.  K.  Cobb,  D.  W.  Couch,  and  \Vm.  Sturgis  were 
received  by  transfer. 

The  General  Conference  of.  1868  had  ordered  that  in 
the  month  of  June,  1869,  a  vote  of  all  the  members  of 
the  Church  in  full  connection,  and  not  less  than  twenty- 
one  years  of  age,  should  be  taken  by  uaiioi  on  the  question 
of  the  admission  of  lay  representation  in  the  General 
Conference,  and  that  at  the  session  of  each  Annual  Con- 
ference in  1869  a  vote  of  the  ministry  on  the  same  ques- 
tion should  be  taken.  At  this  Conference  the  vote  of  the 
laity  in  the  Conference  was  reported  as  follows :  For  lay 
delegation,  1,894;  against,  527.  The  vote  of  the  ministry 
was :  For  lay  delegation,  69  ;  against,  14.  Some  of  the 
wisest  and  best  of  both  tlie  laity  and  ministry  were  num- 
bered in  the  minority. 

The  Conference  now  consisted  of  7  districts,  the  Nor- 
wegian District,  containing  6  preachers  and  317  members, 
having  been  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin  Conference ; 
thus  the  Scandinavian  brethren  passed  from  our  observa- 
tion as  a  Conference.  We  desire,  however,  to  record  our 
high  estimate  of  those  dear  brethren,  sympathizing  with 
them  in  their  difficult  work,  and  rejoice  in  their  remark- 
able success  in  planting  Methodism  among  their  people. 

In  order  somewhat  to  relieve  the  embarrassment  of  those 


398  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Churches  and  Boards  of  Trustees  which  had  failed  to  re- 
ceive the  aid  which  they  had  hoped  to  receive  from  the 
Church  Extension  Society,  a  resolution  was  passed  by  the 
Conference  stating  the  cause  of  the  failure,  and  recom- 
mending all  those  Churches  which  expected  aid  '*  to  rely  to 
the  utmost  extent  on  their  own  resources,  and  withdraw 
all  their  claims  on  said  society  " 

At  this  Conference,  in  addition  to  the  three  received  by 
transfer,  fourteen  were  admitted  on  trial.  (See  Appendix  D.) 
I.  S.  Leavitt  was  one  of  the  number.  He  graduated  from 
the  State  University,  then  joined  the  Conference,  and 
married  the  amiable  and  talented  daughter  of  Rev.  A.  C. 
Pennock,  long  a  member  of  the  Wisconsin  Conference. 
In  1873,  Brother  Leavitt  was  transferred,  and  since  then 
he  has  been  stationed  on  some  of  the  best  charges  in  the 
Wisconsin  Conference.  He  was  also  for  four  years  the 
successful  presiding  elder  of  the  Milwaukee  District,  and 
is  now  filling  an  important  charge. 

J.  D.  Brothers  and  N.  C.  Bradley  have  both  suc- 
ceeded in  the  work,  but  on  account  of  impaired  health  are 
now  supernumerary. 

H.  S.  Richardson  was  also  received.  He  was  in  the 
Conference  six  years,  three  of  which  he  was  pastor  at 
Madison,  where  he  labored  hard  in  the  erection  of  the 
new  and  beautiful  church  edifice,  now  carried  forward  to 
completion.  In  1875  he  was  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin 
Conference,  of  which  he  is  now  a  supernumerary  member. 

Another  of  this  year's  class  is  C.  C.  Swartz.  For  twen- 
ty-three years  he  has  been  in  the  work,  and  most  of  that 
time  his  field  has  been  in  the  more  northern  portions  of  the 
Conference — in  the  sand,  or  among  the  big  pines — but  he 
is  now  in  the  *'  clover,"  within  the  bounds  of  the  Platte- 
ville  District,  doing  good  work  for  the  Master.  He  is  an 
able  preacher,  and  respected  by  the  brethren  of  the  Con 
ference. 


ANNALS  OF  1868-73.  399 

Wm.  Massee  was  also  admitted.  He  has  been  effective 
fifteen  years,  doing  much  frontier  and  hard  work,  during 
which  he  has  led  many  souls  to  Christ.  For  the  last  five 
years  he  has  been  superannuated. 

The  two  brethren  against  whom  complaints  had  been 
made  at  the  last  Conference  were  located. 

The  sixteenth  session  of  the  Conference  met  in  La 
Crosse,  October  3,  1870,  Bishop  Clark  presiding. 

It  is  seldom  that  at  one  Conference  a  class  has  been 
admitted,  which,  although  small,  contained  so  many  men 
who  have  grown  to  power  and  greatness,  as  some  of  those 
young  men  have  who  were  admitted  at  this  Conference. 
I  give  the  first  five  names  as  they  appear  in  the  Confer- 
ence Minutes  of  this  year:  M.  B.  Balch,  E.  L.  Semans, 
John  Tresidder,  W.  J.  McKay,  and  B.  E.  Wheeler.  They 
have  each  served  w^ell  in  the  work,  on  circuit,  station,  or 
district,  for  nineteen  years,  and,  without  any  disparagement 
to  others,  we  give  them  the  well-earned  title,  "Excelsior." 

W.  J.  McKay,  although  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland, 
has  ever  gone  up  since  his  conversion  in  1869.  Himself 
of  tail  stature,  he  has  been  able  to  stand  up  and  be 
seen  and  heard  with  great  acceptance  in  several  of  the 
most  important  charges  of  the  Conference.  After  five 
years  of  ministerial  work  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  A.  A. 
McKendree,  who  has  proven  herself  an  efficient  helper  in 
both  home  and  Church.  Although  but  yet  a  young  man, 
the  Conference  honored  both  itself  and  him  by  sending 
him  as  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  General  Conference  in 
1884,  and  again  in  1888.  He  is  now  serving  his  fourth 
year  as  pastor  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
Madison. 

Rev,  H.  K.  Cobb  died  in  the  city  of  Madison,  Novem- 
ber 29,  1869.  Only  the  year  previous  he  had  been  trans- 
ferred from  the  Vermont  Conference,  w^here  for  sixteen 
years  he  had  been  a  member.      He  had  just  entered  his 


400  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

second  year's  work  at  Madison,  when  he  was  suddenly,  in 
the  very  prime  of  life,  at  the  age  of  forty-two,  called  to 
his  reward.  He  was  a  man  of  scholarly  habits  and  good 
ability.  He  was  an  effective  speaker,  and  his  sermons  were 
well  prepared,  clear  and  pointed.  He  was  a  man  of  one 
work,  and  the  Church  in  his  death  lost  a  most  promising 
laborer.  His  companion  still  lives,  revering  the  memory 
of  her  departed  husband,  and  loving  the  Church  in  which 
he  labored  and  died. 

Robert  Cobban  died  at  Mondovi,  January  4,  1870. 
He  had  spent  fourteen  years  in  the  work  as  a  Methodist 
minister,  and  was  in  his  fourth  year  as  presiding  elder 
when  called  to  his  reward.  He  was  away  from  family  and 
home,  attending  his  quarterly  meeting,  when  he  was  at- 
tacked with  pneumonia.  He  lingered  only  a  few  days, 
leaving  as  a  dying  message  to  his  brethren :  "Be  sure  to 
hold  up  Jesus."  His  remains  repose  in  the  cemetery  at 
Eau  Claire,  over  which  the  preachers  of  the  Chippewa 
District  erected  a  suitable  monument.  His  companion 
still  lingers  on  the  shores  of  time,  in  joyful  anticipation  of 
the  meeting  to  part  no  more.  One  of  the  daughters  is  the 
devoted  companion  of  Dr.  Irish.  She  still  is,  as  she  long 
has  been,  an  earnest  and  talented  worker  in  many  of  the 
moral  and  religious  enterprises  of  the  day. 

Augustus  Hall  died  in  Bellville,  November  15,  1869. 
He  came  to  this  Conference  by  transfer  from  Canada,  in 
1858.  His  last  moments  were  triumphant,  repeating 
slowly,  in  dying  accents,  most  of  the  hymn  commencing 
"  How  happy  every  child  of  grace."  His  companion  also 
still  lives,  loving  the  Church  from  which  her  departed  hus- 
band ascended  to  heaven. 

The  work  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society 
came  before  the  Conference  this  year,  and  a  resolution  was 
passed  "approving  of  its  object  and  organization,  and 
pledging  to  it  all  possible  aid. "     The  work  of  this  society 


ANNALS  OF  1SG8-73.  401 

has  been  a  marvel  of  success.  Says  Bishop  Thobiixn,  of 
ludia  :  ''Its  history  reads  like  a  romauce.  This  society 
\vas  organized  in  March,  1869.  There  were  raised  the  first 
year  $4,096.86.  In  nineteen  years  there  had  been  raised 
$1,886,623.  The  society  has  work  in  Japan,  Corea,  China, 
India,  Burmah,  Singapore,  Bulgaria,  Italy,  South  America, 
and  Mexico.  One  hundred  and  sixty  missionaries  have 
been  sent  out."  The  Conference  secretaries  of  this  Con- 
ference have  been  Mrs  J.  E.  Irish,  Mrs.  E.  L.  Eaton,  Mrs. 
Jas.  Lawson — the  present  secretary  being  Mrs.  W.  A. 
Lawson,  of  Baraboo. 

The  seventeenth  session  of  the  Conference  met  at  Min- 
eral Point,  October  5,  1871,  Bishop  Simpson  presiding. 

P.  E.  Knox  was  received  from  the  Canada  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  A.  D.  Dexter  by  transfer  from  the 
Maine  Conference.  The  former  has  been  supernumerary 
for  six  years,  residing  in  Dakota ;  the  latter  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  Dakota  Conference  in  1889.  Four  were 
admitted  on  trial,  of  whom  only  two  remain  in  the  Con- 
ference, viz.,  Jo-hn  Harris  and  R.  W.  Nichols,  w^ho  have 
for  eighteen  years  been  faithful  in  their  work.  They  are 
both  good  preachers  and  excellent  pastors. 

The  Conference  Minutes  for  the  first  time  contain  the 
reports  of  the  presiding  elders  for  their  several  districts. 
They  were  then,  and  for  a  number  of  years,  very  brief 
and  greatly  condensed.  For  this  year  they  only  covered 
two  pages  of  the  printed  Minutes.  They  have  since  that 
time  been  constantly  growing.  In  1888  they  filled  twenty 
pages  of  the  printed  Minutes,  or  nearly  one-fourth  of  the 
whole.  A  very  pleasing  incident  occurred  at  this  Confer- 
ence in  the  presentation  to  the  venerable  A.  Brun- 
son,  D.  D.,  of  a  cane  made  from  part  of  the  log  of  a 
building  which  was  built  in  Mineral  Point  in  1834,  and 
was  used  for  school  and  meeting  purposes,  and  in  which 
Brother  Brunson  preached  in  1835,  and  in  it  administered 


402  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

the  sacrament.  This  building  is  thought  by  some  to  have 
been  the  first  Protestant  church  among  white  people  in  the 
then  Territory  of  Wisconsin. 

At  this  Conference  the  first  Electoral  Conference  of 
Laymen  met.  There  were  fifty-six  delegates  present. 
J.  H.  Rountree,  of  Platteville,  was  elected  president,  and 
J.  T.  Pryor,  Jr.,  of  Dodgeville,  secretary.  Many  of  the 
laymen  brought  their  wives  with  them  to  enjoy  the  Con- 
ference, so  that,  with  the  ministers  and  ministers'  wives, 
the  citizens  of  Mineral  Point  could  not  have  had  less  than 
three  hundred  persons  to  entertain  ;  but  it  was  all  done 
nobly  and  well.  A  very  appropriate  address  was  framed 
and  forwarded  to  the  Ministerial  Conference.  They  were 
especially  desirous  of  being  recognized  as  ''  re-enforce- 
ments to  and  co-workers  with  the  ministry  in  accom[)]ish- 
ing  the  aims  of  our  honored  Church."  By  resolution  they 
expressed  their  loyalty  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
their  satisfaction  with  her  polity,  and  were  desirous  of 
aiding  in  creating  a  fund  for  the  comfort  of  the  superan- 
nuate preachers  of  the  Conference. 

J.  H.  Rountree,  of  Platteville,  and  John  E.  Stillraan, 
of  Hudson,  were  elected  delegates  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence, and  Thomas  D.  Steele,  of  Sparta,  and  D.  T.  Abell, 
of  Darlington,  reserve  delegates. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  Ministerial  Confer- 
ence promising  aid  to  the  "Madison  Church  Enterprise," 
and  recommending  the  appointment  of  an  agent  to  raise 
funds. 

The  Conference  of  1872  met,  September  18th,  at  West 
Eau  Claire,  Bishop  Gilbert  Haven  presiding.  Bishop 
Haven  was  elected  bishop  in  May  previous  to  this  session 
of  Conference,  but  never  again  visited  our  Conference. 
He  died  in  Maiden,  Massachusetts,  in  January,  1880.  He 
was  emphatically  the  friend  of  the  colored  race,  laboring 
for  and  sacrificins:  much  for  their  welfare. 


ANNALS  OF  1868-73.  403 

Nine  were  admitted  on  trial  (see  Appendix  D)  ;  but 
two — E.  T.  Briggs  and  W.  H.  Chynoweth — remain  at 
present  in  the  Conference,  who  are  doing  excellent  work 
on  their  fields  of  labor.  Another  recruit  of  this  year,  who 
has  but  recently  been  transferred  to  the  Northwest  Iowa 
Conference,  was  G.  W.  L.  Brown,  who  did  fifteen  years 
of  vigorous  and  efficient  work  in  several  of  the  most  im- 
portant charges.  When  transferred,  in  1886,  the  Confer- 
ence expressed  their  great  regret  at  his  leaving,  and 
"hoped  that  his  future  relations  with  another  Conference 
may  be  as  pleasing  as  he  has  always  tried  to  make  them 
for  the  brethren  of  his  Conference ;"  and  should  he  ever 
wish  to  return  he  "  would  be  welcomed  most  gladly  to  a 
place  among  us." 

S.  W.  Horner  was  received  by  transfer  from  the  Pitts- 
burg Conference.  With  the  exception  of  two  years,  when, 
on  account  of  impaired  health,  he  was  supernumerary,  he 
has  given  seventeen  years  of  most  efficient  and  acceptnbiC 
service  in  the  Conference.  He  has  been  pastor  in  Baraboo, 
Sparta,  and  Madison,  and  is  now  succeeding  finely  at  First 
Church,  in  the  city  of  La  Crosse. 

One  brother  was  located  who  had  refused  to  go  to  the 
work  assigned  him  at  the  last  Conference. 

This  Conference  was  marked  by  some  business  not  of 
the  most  pleasant  character.  It  appears  to  have  been  one 
of  the  few  Conferences  in  West  Wisconsin  marked  by  liti- 
gation. Complaints  were  made  against  four  of  the  breth- 
ren. Two  were  cases  of  maladministration,  and  two 
affecting  character.  All  the  complaints  were  investigated, 
but  were  found  to  be  without  foundation,  and  the  charac- 
ter of  all  the  brethren  was  passed. 

A  special  collection  was  taken  in  the  Conference  for 
the  aid  and  relief  of  Dr.  Brunsou,  which  amounted  to 
$337.  This  collection  was  taken  at  each  succeeding 
session  up  to  the  period  of  his  death. 


404  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Dr.  Dashiell,  missionary  secretary,  thrilled  the  Coufer- 
ence  by  his  addresses.  A  few  years  afterwards  he  died. 
The  Church  lost  in  him  a  man  of  great  promise  and  of 
great  intellectual  and  spiritual  power. 

Kobert  Smith  was  received  by  transfer  from  the  Ten- 
nessee Conference,  where  he  had  for  five  years  done  heroic 
work.  For  sixteen  years  he  has  been  a  faithful  laborer  in 
this  Conference. 

The  nineteenth  session  of  the  Conference  was  held  at 
Baraboo,  September  22,  1873,  Bishop    Merrill   presiding. 

Eight  were  admitted  on  trial  (see  Appendix  D),  of 
whom  only  two  remain;  viz.,  Jas.  Jefferson  and  J.  P. 
Greer,  both  of  whom  have  been  faithful  laborers  in  the 
Conference. 

Matthius  Matthioson  was  received,  and  under  the  mis- 
sionary rule  was  ordained  deacon  and  elder,  and  appointed 
missionary  to  New  Mexico. 

Dr.  Twombly  was  transferred  from  the  New  England 
Conference,  and  appointed  to  the  State  University,  to 
which  he  had  been  elected  as  its  president.  He  was  a 
finely  educated  gentleman  and  an  able  minister. 

Some  difficulty  had  occurred  the  previous  year  in  the 
Sparta  Church,  under  the  pastorate  of  an  untried  man  and 
a  stranger  in  the  Conference.  This  year,  under  the  ad- 
ministration of  J.  B.  Bach  man,  the  difficulties  existing 
were  adjusted.  The  Conference  at  its  next  session  ap- 
proved of  his  administration,  although  it  was  somewhat 
"informal,"  in  securing  peace  and  harmony  in  the  Sparta 
Church. 

Jas.  Gillespie  died  this  year.  He  was  born  in  Scotland 
in  1843,  and  came  to  the  United  States  when  a  child. 
When  he  was  but  ten  years  of  age  both  of  his  parents 
died,  leaving  him  in  charge  of  an  older  brother,  Thomas 
Gillespie,  an  old  and  honored  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.     At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  was  converted. 


ANNALS  OF  1S68-73.  405 

He  served  two  years  as  first  lieutenant  in  the  army.  In 
1866  he  was  admitted  on  trial,  and  labored  for  six  years 
in  the  Conference,  when  he  was  stricken  with  consumption. 
He  hastened  to  California,  hoping  that  the  climate  would 
be  beneficial  to  him.  He  was,  however,  disappointed. 
On  the  6th  of  May,  1873,  he  died  at  Kilbourn  City,  in 
blissful  assurance  of  a  blessed  immortality.  A  few  hours 
before  he  died  he  said  to  one  of  his  brethren:  *'Tell,  O 
tell  my  brethren  for  me  that  the  religion  of  Christ  stands 
the  test  of  the  dying  hour." 

Reference  has  been  made  in  previous  chapters  toGales- 
ville  University,  in  which  it  was  shown  that  when  the 
Conference  accepted  the  institution  from  the  trustees,  it 
was  stated  by  them  that  ample  provision  had  been  made 
to  endow  the  university,  so  that  no  pecuniary  aid  would 
ever  be  asked  of  the  Conference,  but  the  Conference  were 
simply  asked  to  give  it  their  influence  and  patronage  in 
supplying  it  with  students,  and  to  be  represented  in  its 
management.  Notwitlistanding  this  expressed  agreement, 
the  president  and  some  of  the  trustees  of  that  institution 
had  for  several  years  been  intimating  to  the  Conference 
that  they  needed  aid  in  securing  a  suitable  endowment, 
and  that  they  looked  to  the  Conference  to  secure  it.  At  this 
Conference  the  pressure  was  made  so  strong  that  the  Com- 
mittee on  Education  recommended  that  the  Conference 
pledge  $5[),000  to  that  institution.  This  report  was 
withheld  from  the  Conference  until  the  last  moments  of 
the  Conference  session.  This  session  was  the  third  held 
that  day.  It  was  now  past  ten  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  many 
members  of  the  Conference  were  anxious  to  adjourn,  in 
order  to  leave  on  a  train  then  about  due.  This  report 
thus  came  at  this  late  hour  before  the  Conference,  and  but 
little  time  was  given  for  discussion  or  objections.  It  ap- 
peared to  many,  who  knew  the  conditions  upon  which  the 
institution  was  received  in  1858,  as  entirely  unjust  and  im- 


406  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

practicable ;  but  it  was  rushed  to  a  vote,  and  passed  by  the 
Conference. 

This  Conference  ordered  the  publication  in  the  Con- 
ference Minutes  of  the  obituaries  of  preachers'  wives.  This 
was  certainly  very  proper.  Their  privations,  toils,  and 
devotion  are  certainly  worthy  of  recording.  In  Appendix 
J  may  be  found  the  necrology  of  the  wives  of  ministers  as 
far  as  the  author  has  been  able  to  obtain  them. 


ANNALS  OF  1S74-S0.  407 


CHAPTER  IX. 

WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE,  1874-80. 

THE  twentieth  session  of  the  Conference  met  in  Brod- 
head,  September  9,  1874,  Bishop  Ames  presiding. 

Six  were  admitted  on  trial,  of  whom  only  two  are  now 
found  in  the  active  work  in  the  Conference  ;  viz.,  E.  C. 
Booth  and  J.  E.  Webster.  They  have  both  been  fifteen 
years  in  the  Conference  without  a  break,  and  have  been 
successful  in  their  work.  Brother  Booth  is  now  in  charge 
of  South  Baraboo,  where  he  is  erecting  a  much-needed  and 
beautiful  church,  that  will  cost  six  thousand  dollars. 

Five  were  transferred  to  the  Conference,  and  seven 
transferred  from  the  Conference,  at  this  session.  Among 
the  latter  was  Dr.  Twombly,  a  man  of  a  finished  educa- 
tion, but  who,  on  account  of  the  ''bossism"  that  has  too 
often  marked  some  of  the  regents  of  the  State  University, 
resigned,  and  returned  to  New  England. 

At  this  Conference  an  instance  occurred  of  the  presid- 
ing bishop  overruling  his  cabinet.  The  term  of  one  of 
the  presiding  elders  of  the  Conference  had  expired.  Four 
or  five  of  the  six  presiding  eiders  nominated  and  requested 
the  bishop  to  appoint  on  the  vacant  district  a  brother  in 
whom  they  had  the  fullest  confidence  as  to  his  suitability 
and  success.  The  bishop,  however,  refused  to  appoint  him, 
giving  as  his  reasons  that  "  this  brother  was  then  in  a  good 
appointment,  and  his  return  was  desired,"  whereas  another 
brother,  whom  he  named,  was  on  the  "floating  list,"  and 
must  be  provided  for ;  hence  he  appointed  the  latter  to  the 


408  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

vacant  district.  After  the  appoiDtments  were  aunounced, 
the  good  bishop  asked  the  brother  whom  the  presiding 
elders  had  nominated  "if  it  was  all  right."  ''Oyes," 
replied  the  brother;  '*  it  is  all  right,  bishop,  but  you  were 
rather  hard  on  me."  "  O,  well,"  replied  the  bishop,  **  wait  a 
little,  wait  a  little,  brother ;  this  great '  iron  wheel '  they  talk 
so  much  about  will  bring  you  up,  by  and  by."  The  brother 
"  waited  "  with  the  greatest  of  serenity  and  composure,  and 
in  four  years  the  "  iron  wheel  "  brought  him  up — or  down  ; 
for  at  that  time  he  was  appointed  presiding  elder.  The 
bishop  and  the  brother  shook  hands  at  this  BrodheadtJon- 
ference,  and  parted  in  the   bonds  of  Christian  friendship. 

At  this  Conference  a  "  Preacher's  Aid  Society  "  was 
organized,  and  a  constitution  adopted.  The  object  of  this 
society  is  the  aiding  of  widows  and  families  of  deceased 
ministers  of  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference.  This  society 
was  legally  incorporated  September  19,  1881,  and  the  ar- 
ticles of  incorporation  duly  filed  in  the  office  of  the  Secre- 
tary of  State,  at  Madison.  From  1874  to  1888,  a  period 
of  fourteen  years,  the  society  has  lost  by  death  five  of  its 
members,  to  whose  families  benefits  have  been  paid, 
amounting,  in  the  aggregate,  to  about  two  thousand  dol- 
lars. The  society  now  numbers  fifty  members,  which  will 
give  a  benefit,  at  death,  to  the  family  of  the  deceased,  of 
about  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  This  society  is  well 
worthy  the  co-operation  of  every  member  of  the  Confer- 
ence. It  furnishes  a  better  and  cheaper  insurance  than 
any  other  in  existence.  It  is  carried  without  any  expenses 
or  agents'  salaries.  The  present  officers  of  the  society  are: 
J.  W.  McKay,  president ;  John  Holt,  vice-president ;  H. 
D.  Jencks,  secretary ;  and  G.  W.  Case,  treasurer. 

O.  A.  Britton  this  year  began  his  itinerant  work.  For 
the  seven  years  he  was  eflfective  the  Lord  gave  him  many 
souls.  His  health  failing,  he  has  been  supernumerary 
eight  years. 


ANiXALS  OF  1S74-S0.  409 

The  twenty-sixth  session  met  at  Hudson,  October  6, 
1875,  Bishop  Wiley  presiding. 

E.  D.  Huntley  and  H.  Goodsell  entered  the  Conference 
by  transfer.  The  former  did  a  grand  work  in  the  city  of 
Madison,  in  pushing  the  "  Madison  Church  Enterprise," 
which  had  been  so  long  in  hand.  He  was  transferred,  in 
1883,  to  the  Baltimore  Conference,  and  was  stationed  at 
the  Metropolitan  Church,  Washington,  where  he  was 
equally  successful.  The  latter  came  to  us  from  the  Min- 
nesota Conference,  in  which  he  had  labored  for  nine  years. 
This  year  he  was  stationed  at  Hudson,  after  which  he  was 
pastor  at  Prescott  and  Platteville.  He  was  then  presiding 
elder  for  four  years  on  the  Platteville  District,  and  is  now 
stationed  at  Eau  Claire.  He  has  been  prospered  in  all 
departments  of  his  work  as  a  minister  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

The  Conference,  with  regret,  had  to  part,  by  their 
transfer  to  other  Conferences,  with  T.  H.  Phillips,  J.  H. 
Whitney,  W.  F.  Delap,  H.  S.  Richardson,  and  C.  E. 
Hawkins. 

Ten  were  admitted  on  trial.     (See  Appendix  D.) 

A.  L.  Tull  was  received  on  trial.  He,  until  quite  re- 
cently has  been  the  one-year  man  of  the  Conference,  never 
remaining  over  one  year  on  a  charge.  This,  however,  is 
not  the  fault  of  the  people ;  for  in  every  instance  they 
have  urged  and  begged  for  his  return  ;  but  he,  evidently 
believing  that  "  a  rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss,"  has  per- 
emptorily declined  to  return.  We  are,  however,  happy  in 
recording  that  as  he  gets  older  he  is  increasing  in  wisdom  ; 
for  he  was  actually  returned  the  second  year  to  Black  River 
Falls.  It  is  not  for  us  to  say  how  much  that  magnificent 
"gold  watch,"  presented  to  him  by  that  benevolent  people, 
had  to  do  with  his  return.  He  is,  anyway,  one  of  the 
men  always  in  demand. 

In  the  list  of  admissions  on  trial  is  the  name  of  G.  T. 
34 


410  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

Newcomb.  He  appears  in  Appendix  D,  araoDg  those  ad- 
mitted in  1873.  It  was  at  thattiraebe  was  first  admitted,  but 
dropped  out  of  the  work  after  one  year's  work  at  Bloomer. 
He  was  again  admitted  in  1875.  After  one  year  at  Men- 
omonee  he  W'as  discontinued  at  his  own  request.  He  then 
went  to  Evanston  to  attend  the  Northwestern  University 
and  the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute.  After  graduation  he 
taught  and  preached  in  several  places.  He  is  now  pro- 
fessor of  theology  in  the  Grant  University,  Athens,  Ten- 
nessee. 

J.  E.  Irish  preached,  by  request  of  the  Conference,  a 
sermon  on  the  "Centennial  of  American  Independence," 
in  which  he  showed  the  marvelous  growth  of  this  Eepublic 
and  the  rich  prospects  of  a  successful  future.  The  dis- 
course, by  request  of  the  Conference,  was  published. 

This  Conference  resolved  to  observe  the  approaching 
Centennial  of  American  Independence  by  appropriate 
services  in  the  month  of  June,  1876. 

Three  members  of  the  Conference  had  died  during 
the  year. 

Rev.  F.  W.  Dighton  was  born  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  September  24,  1832,  and  died  at  Durand,  February 
8,  1875.  He  came  to  Wiscousin  from  Canada,  where  he 
had  preached  for  several  years,  having  seen  many  powerful 
revivals.  He  was  effective  six  years,  and  superannuated 
five  in  Wisconsin.  The  latter  relation  he  sustained  at  his 
death. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Palmer  was  born  August  16, 1821,  and  died 
in  Platteville,  September  23, 1874.  In  1859  he  was  admit- 
ted on  trial  in  the  Conference.  After  three  years'  work 
in  the  Conference  he  enlisted,  and  was  commissioned  as 
captain.  In  1864  he  was  readmitted,  and  after  ten  years 
of  faithful  service  he  received  a  superannuate  relation. 
He  loved  the    Church,   and    to  her  interests  he  gave  the 


A  NNA  LS  OF  1874-80.  41 1 

best  of  his  days.  His  companion  still  lingers  among  us, 
soon  expecting  to  meet  her  beloved  husband  in  glory. 

Rev.  Robert  Langley  was  born  in  Virginia  January 
4,  1805,  and  died  at  Reedsburg  October  l»i,  1874.  In 
January,  1840,  at  Potosi,  under  the  joint  labors  of  H.  W. 
Reed  and  J.  G.  Whitford,  he  was  converted  and  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  1854  he  was 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Wisconsin  Conference,  and  subse- 
quently, by  division,  fell  into  this  Conference.  He  re- 
tained an  effective  relation  for  fifteen  years.  He  served  a 
few  months  during  the  war  as  chaplain  of  the  Fifth  Regi- 
ment of  Wisconsin  Volunteers,  when,  on  account  of  fail- 
ing health,  he  was  compelled  to  resign.  He  was  super- 
annuated for  seven  years.  During  his  ministry  he 
supervised  the  erection  of  several  churches  and  parson- 
ages. He  was  a  good  preacher,  and  a  firm  believer  in 
the  standard  doctrines  of  Methodism. 

Two  other  brethren  died  this  year,  who  had  been  until 
recently  connected  with  the  Conference;  viz.,  Rev.  H.  H. 
Brakeman  and  Rev.  E.  S.  Havens.  These  two  brethren 
had  done  a  great  amount  of  pioneer  work  in  Wisconsin,  and 
although  not  members  of  the  Conference  when  they  died, 
the  Conference  ordered  their  obituaries  published  in  the 
Conference  Minutes.  Many  revere  their  memory,  and 
hope  to  meet  them  in  heaven. 

The  second  Electoral  Conference  of  Laymen  met  this 
year,  electing  again  J.  H.  Rountree,  of  Platteville,  presi- 
dent, and  Miletus  Knight,  of  Durand,  secretary.  M.  Her- 
rick,  of  Hudson,  and  D.  W.  Ball,  of  Monroe,  were  elected 
delegates  to  the  General  Conference,  and  E.  E.  Bently,  of 
La  Crosse,  and  E.  C.  French,  of  Eau  Claire,  reserve  dele- 
gates. This  Conference  declared  itself  as  not  favoring  any 
change  (which  was  being  agitated  in  some  places)  in  the 
presiding  eldership.     It   favored   the    introduction  of  lay 


412  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

representation  in  the  Annual  Conferences,  and  again 
pledged  itself  as  ready  to  aid  in  securing  a  fund  for 
the  "  worn-out  preachers  and  preachers'  widows  in  the  Con- 
ference." 

The  ministerial  delegates  to  the  General  Conference 
elected  were  W.  Hamilton,  W.  Haw,  and  P.  S.  Mather ; 
Reserves — J.  E.  Irish  and  R.  Dudgeon. 

William  Galloway  was  admitted  on  trial  at  this  Confer- 
ence. He  has  been  in  the  active  work  for  thirteen  years, 
laboring  on  the  frontier,  the  Lord  being  with  him.  He  is 
now  supernumerary. 

The  tweuty-second  session  of  the  Conference  was  held 
in  the  Assembly  chamber  of  the  capitol  at  Madison,  Septem- 
ber 13,  1876,  Bishop  Bowman  presiding. 

Five  were  admitted  on  trial.  J.  F.  Zeigler  is  one  of 
the  number  remaining  in  the  Conference,  who,  for  twelve 
years  has  faithfully  preached  Christ  and  him  crucified. 

M.  Benson  was  readmitted  from  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  of  Canada,  where  he  had  labored  for  about 
twenty  years,  filling  several  of  the  most  important  charges. 
During  this  period  he  was  presiding  elder  eight  years. 
For  fourteen  years  he  was  secretary  of  the  Conference  in 
Canada,  and  also  served  as  fraternal  delegate,  in  1872, 
from  that  body  to  the  General  Conference  of  our  Church. 
Since  his  admission  into  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference, 
a  period  of  thirteen  years,  he  has  been  presiding  elder 
four  years,  and  is  now  stationed  in  the  city  of  Monroe. 
F.  Howarth  was  also  received  by  readmission.  For  eleven 
years  he  was  a  faithful  laborer  in  the  Conference.  In 
1886  he  was  transferred  to  the  Wisconsin  Conference. 

John  Haw  was  this  year  received  by  transfer  from  the 

Wisconsin  Conference  and  stationed  at  Osceola.     For  the 

thirteen  years  in  which  he  has  been  in  the  Conference,  he 

has  prospered  in  his  labors,  and,  like  his  revered  brother, 

s  careful  and  correct  in  all  his  work. 


A  NNA  LS  OF  1S74-S0.  413 

It  was  reported  to  this  Conference  that  in  certain  quar- 
ters there  was  some  doubt  in  regard  to  the  "legal  status" 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  the  State -of  Wis- 
consin, by  which  our  Church  property  is  held,  as  based 
upon  the  Act  of  Incorporation  of  1868,  to  which  reference 
has  been  already  made.  The  Conference,  therefore,  ap- 
pointed three  of  the  best  legal  minds  of  the  Conference  to 
confer  with  a  similar  committee  of  the  Wisconsin  Confer- 
ence, in  order  that  they  might  ascertain  if  any  further 
enactments  were  necessary  in  order  to  make  our  "legal 
status"  perfect. 

The  Conference  was  invited  to  visit  in  a  body  the  new 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  course  of  erection.  They 
did  so,  gathering  in  the  lower  room  of  the  bu'.lding.  Under 
the  direction  of  Bishop  Bowman  and  Pastor  Huntley  the 
members  of  the  Conference  were  invited  to  aid  in  the 
work.  With  the  spirit  and  enthusiasm  which  ever  marks 
a  Methodist  Conference,  they  responded  by  subscribing 
$500,  for  which,  if  the  cash  was  not  then  paid,  they  gave 
their  notes,  which,  it  is  probable,  were  all  paid  ou  or 
before  maturity. 

Two  others  were  received  on  trial  at  this  Conference 
whose  names  do  not  appear  upon  the  list  in  the  published 
Minutes;  viz.,  W.  P.  Hathaway  and  G.  W.  Smith.  The 
latter,  after  thirteen  years  of  faithful  w^rk,  is  still  a 
laborer  in  the  Conference.     The  former  located  in  1882. 

A  "  Conference  register,"  prepared  by  J.  B.  Bachman, 
was  printed  in  the  Minutes  of  this  year.  This  register 
showed  when  and  where  each  session  of  the  West  Wiscon- 
sin Conference  had  been  held,  the  presiding  bishop  and 
secretary  ;  also  the  number  of  the  members  of  the  Church, 
with  the  number  and  valuation  of  churches  and  parson- 
ages each  year.  In  the  Appendices  of  this  volume,  tables 
embracing  all  these  items,  with  othei's,  may  be  found. 


414  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

The  twenty-third  Conference  met  at  West  Eau  Claire, 
October  3,  1877,  Bishop  Andrews  presiding. 

Six  were  admitted  on  trial.  G.  N.  Foster,  F.  L.  Hart, 
I.  F.  Nuzum,  and  W.  W.  Hurd  still  remain  in  the  Confer- 
ence, all  of  them  doing  excellent  work.  One  was  trans- 
ferred to,  and  four  from  the  Conference. 

Mrs.  Jennie  Willing,  of  Chicago,  visited  the  Confer- 
ence in  the  interests  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary 
Society.  She  delivered  an  able  address,  and  greatly  aided 
the  work  of  this  society  in  the  Conference. 

Kev.  A.  Carman,  D.  D.,  bishop  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  Canada,  who  had  been  on  a  tour  of 
inspection  in  the  then  new  Manitoba  region,  visited  the 
Conference.  His  rich,  sound,  and  Scriptural  experience 
was  indeed  a  benediction  to  the  Conference. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Stanley,  superintendent 
of  the  Chippewa  Falls  and  Western  Kailway,  the  Confer- 
ence was  given  a  free  ride  to  and  from  Chippewa  Falls, 
which  was  much  enjoyed  by  the  Conference  and  many 
citizens  of  Eau  Claire. 

The  committee  appointed  at  the  last  session  to  inquire 
into  and  report  on  llie  "legal  status"  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  reported 
through  A.  Brunson,  "that  having  obtained  the  decision 
of  the  Judiciary  Committee  of  the  Wisconsin  Legislature, 
in  which  Judge  Lyons,  of  the  Supreme  Bench,  concurred, 
that  the  special  charter  granted  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  1868  [see  Appendix  F]  remains  intact,  and 
that  there  is  no  need  of  any  further  legislation  on  the  sub- 
ject." 

The  report  on  Education  at  this  session  contains  the 
final  action  of  the  Conference  in  regard  to  Galesville  Uni- 
versity. The  reader  is  referred  to  the  history  of  this 
institution  as  given  in  previous  chapters  of  this  volume. 
During  this  year,  through  some  secret  effort,  the  charter  of 


ANNALS  OF  1S74-80.  415 

this  institution  was  annulled  by  an  act  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature, transferred  from  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference, 
and  given  to  another  Church.  The  action  of  the  Confer- 
ence in  the  following  resolutions  will  indicate  something  of 
the  agencies  employed  in  accomplishing  this  change,  and 
the  views  of  the  Conference  in  regard  to  it : 

"  Resolved,  1.  That  we  do  not  recognize  the  moral  or 
religious  rights  of  the  Legislature  to  thus  summarily  trans- 
fer the  vested  rights  of  this  Conference  in  said  institution. 

"2.  That  the  result  accomplished  is  contrary  to  the 
intent  and  design  of  the  founder  of  said  institution. 

**  3.  That  a  failure  to  notify  the  Conference  trustees  of 
said  university  of  the  real  purpose  of  the  special  meeting 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  which  adopted  resolutions  asking 
for  a  change  in  the  charter,  was  an  act  highly  reprehensible 
on  the  part  of  those  who  made  the  call. 

"  4.  That  we  utterly  deny  that  we  have  broken  faith 
with  said  institution,  in  failing  to  secure  an  endowment 
thereof. 

"  5.  That  while  we  insist  on  the  unfairness  and  injustice 
of  the  course  pursued,  yet  we  do  not  believe  the  interest 
involved  of  sufficient  magnitude  to  warrant  a  prosecution  in 
the  courts  for  the  securing  of  our  rights." 

Rev.  Thomas  Manuel  died  this  year.  He  was  converted 
and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  his  twentieth 
year,  under  the  labors  of  P.  S.  Mather.  In  1867  he  was 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Conference.  His  health  having 
been  failing  for  some  years,  in  1873,  under  the  advice  of 
his  brethren  and  medical  adviser,  he  was  placed  under 
treatment  at  the  asylum  in  Madison.  He  remained  there 
without  any  apparent  improvement  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  June  23,  1877.  In  all  his  infirmities  of  body 
and  mind  it  was  noticed  that  there  was  one  name  he 
never  forgot,  for  whenever  the  name  of  Jesus  was  spoken 
in  his    presence    he  would    manifest    great    delight.     His 


416  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE 

body  was  committed  to  the  tomb  in  Hazel  Green,  in  "  sure 
and  certain  hope  of  a  glorious  resurrection." 

For  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  Conference  a 
table  of  "deceased  members  of  the  Conference  from  1856 
to  1878,"  prepared  by  James  Lawson,  was  printed  in  the 
Minutes.     (See  Appendix  H.) 

The  twenty- fourth  Conference  was  held  at  Monroe, 
September  25,  1878,  Bishop  Foster  presiding.  The  bishop 
failing  to  reach  the  seat  of  conference  at  its  opening  ses- 
sion, Kev.  A.  Brunson,  D.  D.,  was  elected  president  pro 
tern.  He  took  the  chair  amidst  the  cheers  of  the  Conference. 
The  bishop  arrived  to  preside  at  the  second  day's  session. 

One  was  transferred  from,  and  one  to  the  Conference. 
George  Tyacke  and  H.  Dockham  were  readmitted.  Four 
were  received  on  trial.  Of  Thomas  Snodgrass  and  Wm. 
E.  Doughty  mention  has  already  been  made.  Charles 
Barker  has  been  effective  for  nine  years.  He  is  endowed 
with  excellent  natural  abilities  for  usefulness,  having 
the  faculty  of  becoming  acquainted  and  familiar  with  all 
the  people.  James  Ford  has  been  effective  twelve  years. 
He  is  a  young  man  of  congenial  spirit,  and  useful  in  the 
work.  W.  J.  Bullivant,  N.  Leach,  and  S.  E.  McLain 
received  locations  at  their  requests. 

Three  cases  of  litigation  occurred  at  this  session.  One 
resulted  in  an  acquittal ;  the  second,  in  its  reference  to  the 
presiding  elder  for  investigation.  The  third  related  to  a 
business  transaction  between  two  brethren,  which  was  re- 
ferred to  a  "  Committee  of  Arbitration,"  who  reported  that 
the  accusing  party  had  "no  cause  of  complaint"  against 
the  other,  whereupon  the  Conference  requested  the  former 
to  cease  the  contention,  and  do  all  in  his  power  to  "  counter- 
act the  evil  reports"  against  the  latter.  It  was  expected 
that  the  brother  would  regard  the  request  of  the  Confer- 
ence ;  but  unfortunately  he  did  not  do  so,  but  continued 
the   agitation  against  the   brother   for  three   years.     The 


ANNALS  OF  1874-80.  417 

Conference  bore  with  him  patiently,  until  finally  the  case 
was  sent  to  a  committee  for  trial,  who  reported  that  the 
brother  "  should  be  admonished  by  the  bishop  in  open 
Conference,  and  that  his  character  should  then  pass." 

A  new  committee,  at  the  suggestion  of  Bishop  Foster, 
was  appointed  at  this  session,  entitled  "On  Conference 
Relations,"  to  whom  all  cases  in  which  any  doubt  existed 
as  to  what  relation  a  member  should  sustain  to  the  Confer- 
ence might  be  referred.  This  committee  was  a  great  re- 
lief to  the  presiding  elders  of  the  Conference,  who  pre- 
viously had  to  assume  more  responsibility  than  was  pleasant 
or  agreeable.  This  committee  has  been  continued  in  the 
Conference,  being  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  "stand- 
ing committees  "  of  the  Conference. 

The  twenty-fifth  Conference  was  held  at  La  Crosse, 
September  24,  1879,  Bishop  Peck  presiding. 

P.  S.  Mather,  who  had  been  twenty-two  years  in  the 
Conference,  was  transferred  to  the  Nebraska  Conference. 
The  Conference  expressed  their  regrets  at  his  leaving,  and 
that,  "  should  he  ever  return,  they  would  receive  him  with 
open  hands  and  hearts." 

George  and  Jeffry  Haigh  withdrew  from  the  ministry, 
no  resolution  of  regret  being  passed  by  the  Conference. 
Eight  were  admitted  on  trial  (see  Appendix  D),  of  whom 
five  still  remain  in  the  work.  W.  Shepherd,  I.  B.  Bick- 
ford,  L.  N.  Wooley,  and  James  McManus  have  continued 
without  any  break  for  ten  years.  F.  W.  Hall,  after  three 
years  in  the  active  work,  was  compelled,  on  account  of 
his  health,  greatly  to  the  regret  of  the  Conference,  to  ask 
a  supernumerary  relation,  which  relation  has  been  con- 
tinued to  the  present.  He  has  resided  in  the  city  of 
Madison  ever  since  his  effective  relation  ceased.  He  is 
a  popular  and  successful  lawyer,  which  he  conducts  on 
Christian  principles.  He  has  ever  been  a  faithful  sup- 
porter of  the  Church,  and   ever  ready  to  aid  the  pastor 

35 


418  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

or  presiding  elder  in  whatever  ministerial  Avork  he  is 
able  to  do. 

There  were  at  this  Conference  two  cases  of  litigation — 
one  resulting  in  an  acquittal,  and  the  other  in  an  ''  ad- 
monition "  to  the  erring  brother  "by  the  bishop  in  open 
Conference." 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with  a  similar 
committee  of  the  Wisconsin  Conference  on  "a  change  of 
boundaries  between  the  two  Conferences."  At  this  time 
the  boundaries  of  Wisconsin  Conference  gave  to  them  the 
line  of  the  Wisconsin  Central  Railroad  to  Ashland,  and 
also  the  counties  of  Bayfield,  Ashland,  and  Douglas,  situ- 
ated north  of  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference,  thus  shut- 
ing  us  out  from  the  Great  Lakes.  The  commission  was 
successful  in  securing  the  much-needed  corrections,  and 
the  General  Conference  of  1880  authorized  the  change. 

A  new  Committee  on  "Admissions"  was  appointed, 
which  has  been  continued  in  the  Conference,  and  has  be- 
come one  of  the  "  standing  committees."  It  has  furnished 
to  the  Conference,  from  year  to  year,  much  valuable 
information  in  a  small  compass  in  regard  to  candidates  for 
the  ministry  ;  and,  although  some  have  sarcastically  named 
it  the  "  smelling  committee,"  yet  it  has  beeu  of  great  ben- 
efit to  the  Conference. 

A  Conference  register  was  prepared  by  T.  M.  Fuller- 
ton,  giving  the  time  and  place  of  birth,  when  and  to  what 
Conference  first  admitted  on  trial,  and  the  years  superannu- 
ated or  supernumerary,  of  each  minister  of  the  Conference. 

The  delegates  elected  to  the  General  Conference  this 
year,  were  Wm.  Hamilton,  Wm.  Haw,  and  Jas.  Law^sou; 
reserves — E.  D.  Huntley  and  J.  E.  Irish. 

The  Electoral  Conference  met  on  Friday,  September 
26th,  and  organized  by  the  appointment  for  the  third 
time  of  J.  H.  Rountree,  president,  and  E.  E.  French, 
secretary.     D.    J.    Spaulding,  of  Black  River   Falls,   and 


ANNAJ.S  OF  1S74-80.  419 

J.  T.  Knigstou,  of  Necedah,  were  elected  delegates  to  the 
General  Conference  of  1880;  and  Wm.  H.  Curry,  of 
Mineral  Point,  and  E.  C.  French,  of  Eau  Claire,  reserves. 
Some  weeks  after  tiie  Conference,  it  was  found  that  J.  T. 
Kingston  was  not  eligible,  and,  although  every  way  fitted 
and  worthy,  as  soon  as  he  ascertained  that  fact  he  resigned, 
and  Wm.  H.  Curry,  first  reserve  delegate,  filled  his  place. 
Brother  Curry  was  of  pure  Methodist  stock.  His  sainted 
father  was  a  pillar  in  the  Church  at  Mineral  Point  in 
the  stormy  times  of  1848-9,  when  it  would  seem  as 
though  our  Zion  at  that  place  was  on  the  point  of  final 
dissolution.  Brother  Curry  and  his  lay  colleague  were 
faithful  delegates  at  the  General  Conference.  By  resolu- 
tion this  Electoral  Conference  expressed  itself  in  favor  of 
maintaining  the  class-meeting,  the  itinerancy,  and  the  old- 
fashioned  quarterly  meeting,  each  district  to  have  thirteen 
or,  at  the  most,  sixteen  appointments. 

O.  B.  Kilbourn  retired  from  the  active  work  at  this 
Conference,  in  which  he  had  spent  fifteen  years,  and  was 
made  supernumerary.  He  still  continues  to 'preach  as  far 
as  he  is  able. 

The  twenty -sixth  Conference  session  was  held  at  Platte- 
ville,  September  22,  1880,  Bishop  Harris  presiding. 

T.  M.  Fullerton,  having  served  the  Conference  as  sec- 
retary for  three  years,  declined  a  nomination.  The  Con- 
ference by  ballot  elected  in  his  place  Bert  E.  Wheeler, 
who,  for  a  period  of  seven  years,  until  he  was  appointed 
presiding  elder,  faithfully  served  the  Conference  in  that 
capacity.  The  neatness  and  correctness  of  the  Minutes 
during  his  secretaryship  will  compare  favorably  \vith  any 
in  the  connection. 

Warren  Woodruff,  an  old  member  of  the  Wisconsin 
Conference,  was  received,  by  change  of  Conference  bound- 
aries, from  that  Conference.  He  is  a  most  faithful  laborer, 
esteemed  and  loved  by  the  people  of  his  charge. 


420  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

E.  L.  Eaton  came  to  the  Conference  this  year  by 
transfer  from  the  same  Conference.  Brother  Eaton  is  a 
native  "Badger,"  having  been  born  in  Hebron,  Jefferson 
County,  Wisconsin,  in  1846.  He  received  a  common- 
school  education,  attended  for  some  time  Milton  Academy, 
after  which  he  taught  school  for  several  years.  He  was 
licensed  to  preach  in  1870.  In  1871  he  joined  the  Wis- 
consin Conference,  and.  after  preaching  for  over  three 
years,  he  took  a  theological  course  at  the  Garrett  Biblical 
Institute,  Evanston.  After  his  graduation  he  returned  to 
Wisconsin,  and  for  three  years  was  pastor  in  Beloit.  •  At 
the  close  of  his  pastorate  at  Beloit  he  was  transferred  to 
the  West  Wisconsin  Conference,  and  stationed  in  the  city 
of  Madison,  where  he  remained  three  years.  After  this  he 
was  for  four  years  presiding  elder  of  Madison  District. 
During  his  seven  years'  residence  in  the  capital  city  of 
Wisconsin  he  was  not  only  respected  and  popular  with  the 
masses,  but  was  always  in  demand  for  any  special  work  on 
the  great  moral  questions  of  the  times.  At  the  close  of 
his  work  on  the  district  he  was  sent  as  pastor  to  North 
La  Crosse,  in  which  place  he  remodeled,  enlarged,  and 
beautified  the  church  edifice.  It  is  but  little  to  say  that 
this  is  a  most  remarkable  brother.  His  varied  gifts  make 
him  a  power  in  the  choir,  pulpit,  or  rostrum,  and  we  be- 
speak for  him  a  glorious  future,  while  he  fearlessly  goes 
forth  to  battle  against  the  wrong,  whether  in  politics  or 
religion. 

John  Harrington  was  received  on  his  credentials  from 
the  Primitive  Methodist  Church.  He  remained  but  two 
years  in  the  Conference,  when,  on  account  of  the  health 
of  his  companion,  he  was  transferred  to  the  Colorado  Con- 
ference. 

T.  B.  Killiam  was  readmitted.  At  the  end  of  the 
year  he  was  transferred  to  the  Minnesota  Conference,  and 
soon  after  died. 


ANNALS  OF  1874-80.  421 

Seven  were  admitted  on  trial.  (See  Appendix  D.) 
J.  T.  Morgans,  E.  H.  McKenzie,  and  J.  H.  Avery  are  still 
in  the  Conference,  able,  faithful,  and  successful  in  their 
work.  Two  others,  sons  of  the  writer,  were  also  received 
on  trial;  viz.,  W.  A.  and  Jas.  C.  Lawson,  wdio  had  both 
just  graduated  at  the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  Evanston. 
The  former,  after  a  year's  trial,  concluded  that  he  could 
serve  God  and  the  Church  as  well,  if  not  better,  in  the 
local  ranks,  and,  at  his  request,  was  discontinued.  He  has 
been  for  several  years  chief  train-dispatcher  on  the  Mad- 
ison Division  of  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Railroad, 
and  mainly  through  his  efforts  the  new  and  beautiful 
church  at  South  Side,  Baraboo,  is,  at  this  writing,  nearly 
completed.  The  latter,  after  only  a  few  weeks'  work  at 
Bloomington,  his  first  charge,  was  called  by  the  Mission . 
Board  to  go  as  a  missionary  to  India.  He  responded  with- 
out delay  to  the  call,  and,  on  Deceraber  4,  1880,  sailed 
from  New  York  on  his  way  to  India.  The  Lord  has  gra- 
ciously preserved  his  health,  given  him  a  most  suitable 
and  devoted  companion,  and  most  blessed  success  in 
their  work.  He  has  never  forgotten  his  "  home  Confer- 
ence," but  has  sent  annually  a  letter  of  greeting  to  it, 
which  the  Conference  has  heard  with  interest,  and  appro- 
priately responded.  He  hopes,  with  his  wife  and  the  three 
dear  children  the  Lord  has  given  them,  to  be  back  on  a 
furlough  of  two  years  to  his  native  country  and  home,  in 
April,  1891. 

Several  new  questions  were,  by  the  General  Conference 
of  1880,  added  to  the  business  of  the  Annual  Conferences. 
Among  those  we  notice  a  distinction  in  regard  to  loca- 
tions— one  of  the  questions,"  Have  any  been  located  at 
their  own  request?"  and  another,  "Have  any  been  lo- 
cated?" Also  in  regard  to  withdrawals — one  question 
being,  "Have  any  withdrawn?"  and  the  other,  "Have 
any  been  permitted  to  withdraw  under  charges  ?"      This 


422  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

latter  question,  unless  carefully  guarded,  is  liable  to  be 
misapplied,  by  permitting  a  person  to  withdraw  when  the 
honor  of  the  Church  and  the  cause  of  Christ  might  de- 
mand expulsion. 

Two  members  of  the  Conference  died  this  year. 

John  Bean  died  of  apoplex}^  near  Baraboo,  May  1, 
1880,  in  the  sixty-fourth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  con- 
verted at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  commenced  his  itinerant 
life  in  1845.  He  continued  in  the  effective  ranks  for 
twenty-four  years,  during  which  he  witnessed  many  power- 
ful revivals.  From  infirmities  brought  upon  himself  by 
exposure  in  the  w^ork,  he  was  compelled,  in  1869,  to  take 
a  supernumerary  relation,  which  he  retained  for  eleven 
years.  During  the  years  he  was  laid  aside  from  active 
work  he  often  regretted  his  inability  to  labor,  and  frequently 
said:  "I  would  give  all  I  have  for  the  privilege  of  labor- 
ing on  the  poorest  circuit  in  the  Conference."  The  Lord 
prospered  him  in  his  temporal  affairs,  so  that  he  acquired 
considerable  property.  It  was  his  often  expressed  desire 
and  purpose  that  he  hoped  to  make  it  a  benefit  to  the  Church 
of  his  choice,  and  especially  to  assist  the  faithful  itinerant. 
He  knew  not  the  hour  or  moment  w^hen  the  Lord  came  to 
take  him  home.  He  dropped  dead  in  his  own  yard,  the 
ministering  spirits  conveying  his  spirit  safely  to  his  heav- 
enly rest.  His  companion  (Mrs.  Fruit)  still  resides  in 
Baraboo.  She  is  always  found  in  her  place  in  the  Church, 
and  ever  ready  to  advance  its  interests. 

Edward  Doughty,  of  whom  mention  is  made  elsewhere, 
died  at  Louisville,  August  13,  1880,  in  his  seventy-fourth 
year.  Father  Doughty  (as  he  w^as  familiarly  called)  was 
one  of  the  Lord's  noblemen,  and  a  shining  light  in  the 
Church.  He  was  an  instructive  preacher,  especially  to  the 
children,  and  a  good  pastor.  His  last  words  were :  "I 
must  be  dying;  I  hear  sounds  of  heavenly  music." 


Rev.   W.   J.    McKAY 


Rev.    B.    E.   WHEELER. 


Rev.   M.   B.    BALCH. 


Rev.    E.    L.    EATOxN',  D.  D. 


ANNALS  OF  1881-6.  423 


CHAPTER  X. 

WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE,  1881-6. 

THE  twenty-seventh  Conference  session  was  held  at 
Sparta,  September  14,  1881,  Bishop  Foss  presiding. 
At  this  Conference  only  one  was  admitted  on  trial ;  viz. , 
James  Barthplomew.  In  1 882  he  ^vas  sent  to  the  Black  Hills 
Mission,  in  Dakota,  where  he  remained  four  years.  He  then 
went  to  Boston  University.  After  his  graduation  he  was 
transferred  to  the  New  England  Southern  Conference.  He 
is  a  young  man  of  great  promise,  and  is  another  of  our 
"Badger"  boys  we  have  furnished  for  the  Eastern  States. 
Lodi,  where  he  was  raised,  has  cause  to  be  proud  of  such 
a  son. 

A.  W.  Cummings  was  transferred  to  the  Minnesota, 
D.  W.  Couch  to  the  New  York  East,  and  James  C.  Lawson 
to  the  North  India  Conference.  C.  R.  Kellerman  was 
received  by  transfer  from  the  Detroit,  and  E.  Bradford,  Jr., 
from  the  New  Hampshire  Conferences.  The  latter  is  now 
the  efficient  presiding  elder  of  the  Chippewa  District,  and 
the  brother  of  Hon.  I.  B.  Bradford,  one  of  the  efficient  lay 
delegates  to  the  General  Conference  of  1884. 

George  A.  Joslin  was  received  from  the  Bible  Christian 
Church,  of  England.  He  had  been  connected  with  that 
Church  thirteen  years,  and  is  doing  efficient  work  in  our 
Conference. 

By  resolution  of  the  Conference  no"  less  than  four  mem- 
bers of  the  Conference  were  notified  that  it  was  the  desire 


424  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

of  the  Conference  that  they  should  locate  at  the  next 
session.  This  was  an  unusual  occurrence  to  take  place  at 
one  Conference.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  remoteness  of 
the  year  to  elect  delegates  to  the  General  Conference  had 
no  influence  on  that  action. 

Two  cases  of  litigation  took  place  at  this  session.  To 
one  reference  has  already  been  made,  and  its  final  result 
stated.  The  other  was  a  complaint  made  against  a  recently 
appointed  presiding  elder,  which  was  referred  to  the  pre- 
siding elder  who  should  succeed  him  on  the  district,  to  be 
investigated.  After  a  formal  trial  at  the  next  Conference 
he  was  acquitted. 

A  resolution  was  passed  by  a  rising  vote,  expressive  of 
sympathy  for  Mrs.  Garfield  in  her  deep  sorrow,  which  was 
forwarded  to  her  by  telegram. 

A  committee  was  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  express- 
ing the  disapproval  of  the  Conference  on  Mormon  Polyg- 
amy. Strong  resolutions  were  passed  against  the  evil  by 
the  Conference,  calling  upon  the  ''  Government  and  Church 
to  do  their  utmost  for  its  speedy  overthrow." 

A  letter  was  addressed  to  the  Conference,  and  published 
in  the  Minutes,  from  the  venerable  Father  Brunson,  who 
was  sick  and  unable  to  be  present  at  the  Annual  Confer- 
ence, which  he  had  attended  for  over  sixty-three  years.  A 
brother  was  appointed  by  the  Conference  to  make  a  suita- 
ble response  to  the  letter. 

Four  ministers  died  this  year.  Rev.  Enoch  Tasker 
was  born  in  Shefiield,  England,  February  20,  1826,  and 
died  at  Eau  Claire,  December  16,  1880.  He  had  been  in 
the  ministerial  work  for  thirty-one  years.  During  this 
period  he  was  pastor  on  several  of  the  best  charges  in  the 
Conference.  For  five  years  he  served  as  chaplain  of  the 
Wisconsin  State  Prison,  at  Waupun.  For  four  years  he 
was  presiding  elder.  He  was  a  brother  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary ability.     His  sermons  were  carefully  prejmred,  gen- 


ANNALS  OF  1881-6.  425 

erally  short,  containing  no  superfluities,  and  were  pointed 
to  the  heart.  He  was  a  good  pastor,  and  diligent  in 
attending  to  all  the  interests  of  the  Church.  His  life  was 
that  of  a  true,  exemplary  Christian.  He  was  dearly 
beloved  by  all  his  brethren,  and  is  now  enjoying  the  full 
fruition  of  eternal  life.  His  companion,  who  faithfully 
with  him  endured  the  toils  and  labors  incident  to  the  life 
of  an  itinerant,  resides  at  Eau  Claire,  a  consistent  Chris- 
tian, and  devoted  to  the  Zion  in  which  her  translated  hus- 
band lived  and  died. 

Kev.  Ira  A.  Sweatland  was  born  in  Derby,  Vermont, 
October  12,  1810,  and  died  at  Mauston,  April  30,  1881. 
In  his  twenty-second  year  he  united  with  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Conference  on  trial.  In  1854  he  came  to  Wisconsin, 
and  was  stationed  at  Baraboo,  Madison,  and  other  impor- 
tant places  in  the  Conference,  until  his  health  failed.  He 
sustained  a  superannuated  relation  to  the  Conference  for 
twelve  years  prior  to  his  death.  In  broken  tones,  a  short 
time  before  his  death,  he  exclaimed  :  "■  Happy  !  Happy  !" 
His  aged  companion  still  lingers  on  the  shores  of  time, 
full  of  hope  and  expectation. 

Rev.  C.  Z.  Crossett  was  born  at  Danbury,  Vermont, 
September  16,  1852,  and  died  at  Pepin,  January  5,  1881. 
His  term  of  service  in  the  ministry  was  short,  he  being 
received  on  trial  in  1877.  Just  before  he  died,  he  said : 
"  I  w^ould  not  exchange  what  I  now  possess  for  half  a 
dozen  worlds  like  this." 

Rev.  W.  S.  Wright  was  born  in  Wolford  County, 
Canada,  in  1832,  and  died  in  Dodgeville,  August  25, 1881. 
In  his  seventeenth  year  he  was  converted.  In  1855  he 
joined  the  Niagara  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Canada.  In  1866  he  came  to  AVisconsin,  and 
was  admitted  on  his  credentials  into  the  Northwest  Wis- 
consin Conference.  He  labored  in  Wisconsin  fifteen  years, 
during  four  of  which  he  was  presiding  elder.     His  death 


426  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

was  sudden  but  peaceful.  His  companion  resides  in  her 
Dakota  home. 

Tlie  twenty-eighth  session  was  held  in  Portage,  Sep- 
tember 13,  1882,  Bishop  Andrews  presiding. 

J.  J.  Austin  was  received  by  transfer  from  the  Troy 
Conference.  James  Havens  and  E.  Tench  were  readmit- 
ted. Five  were  admitted  on  trial.  E.  Trimm,  S.  W. 
Trousdale,  and  B.  Nott  remain  in  the  Conference  in  the 
active  work.  Although  but  seven  years  since  their  admis- 
sion, yet  they  are  now  successfully  filling  three  important 
charges  in  the  Conference.  M.  J.  Robinson  and  T.  W. 
North  were  also  received,  the  former  being  now  super- 
numerary ;  and  the  latter,  after  two  years,  was  transferred 
to  the  Wisconsin  Conference,  and  is  now  stationed  at  Lake 
Geneva. 

Five  were  located  at  their  own  request.  Brother  J.  H. 
Whitney  was  one  of  the  number.  He  had  done  several 
years'  good  service  in  this  and  the  Tennessee  Conference ; 
but  his  health  failing  him,  he,  reluctantly  to  himself  and 
to  the  regret  of  the  Conference,  thought  it  best  to  locate. 
He  resides  in  Baraboo,  ever  ready  to  assist  the  pastor,  and 
by  his  presence  and  means  aiding  in  the  good  work. 

One  was  located  by  the  Conference ;  but  it  was  thought 
by  some  that  a  trial  and  expulsion  would  have  more  fully 
honored  the  Church. 

Against  three  brethren  charges  were  preferred,  and 
trials  were  held  by  select  numbers  appointed  by  the  Con- 
ference. One  case  resulted  in  an  acquittal.  Another  was 
the  case  of  a  brother  who  refused  to  leave  the  charge  upon 
which  he  had  been  for  two  years,  and  who  was  appointed 
to  a  much  better  charge  on  the  same  district.  The  fact  of 
the  officials  of  the  charge  having  requested  his  removal 
did  not  appear  to  have  the  least  weight  with  him.  He 
persistently  refused  to  leave  the  parsonage.  He  was  ar- 
raigned before  a  committee,  who  "suspended"  him,  and 


ANNALS  OF  1881-6.  427 

as  he  failed  to  appear  at  the  Conference  in  his  defense, 
but  sent  a  request  that  he  should  be  'Mocated  or  allowed 
to  withdraw,"  the  Conference  allowed  him  to  "withdraw 
under  charges."  The  other  brother  was  charged  with  im- 
morality. He  had  been  repeatedly  informed  of  the  time 
and  place  of  trial,  but  failed  to  appear  in  his  defense ;  there- 
fore the  "  select  number,"  after  considering  the  case,  "  ex- 
pelled" him. 

E.  E.  Clough  was  appointed  "  Custodian  of  Conference 
Historical  Records." 

Two  of  the  veterans  of  the  Conference  died  this  year. 
Rev.  Alfred  Brunson,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Danbury,  Con- 
necticut, February  9,  1793,  and  died  at  Prairie  du  Chien, 
AVisconsin,  August  3,  1882,  in  the  ninetieth  year  of  his  age. 
In  July,  1809,  he  was  converted,  and  joined  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  In  1820  he  joined  the  Ohio  Conference. 
During  the  fifteen  years  of  his  labors  in  it  he  gathered  into 
the  Church  hundreds  of  souls.  In  1835  he  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  Indian  Missions,  on  the  Upper  Mis- 
sissippi. He  moved  his  family  in  1836,  and  settled  in 
Prairie  du  Chien,  bringing  his  house  with  him,  from 
which  he  never  moved  his  family  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death.  During  the  forty-seven  years  of  his  residence  in 
Wisconsin,  he  sustained  an  effective  relation  for  twenty- 
four  years,  in  fourteen  of  which  he  was  presiding  elder. 
He  was  superannuated  twenty-three  years.  For  some  time 
during  this  period  he  was,  under  the  appointment  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  Indian  agent  on  Lake  Superior.  The  rest 
of  his  superannuation  embraced  those  years  when  bodily 
infirmity  compelled  him  to  rest.  He  was  delegate  to  the 
General  Conferences  of  1832,  1860,  1868,  and  1872.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  force  of  character,  of  indomitable  will, 
and  wonderful  perseverance.  It  was  not  without  some 
reason  that  he  Avas  sometimes  jokingly  called  ' '  King 
Alfred."     His   convictions  of  duty  were  strong,  and  his 


428  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

love  for  truth  very  great.  His  habits  were  exceedingly 
methodical,  and  he  acquired  a  large  store  of  knowledge. 
As  a  writer  he  was  known  throughout  the  Church.  The 
pages  of  the  secular  and  religious  papers,  and  the  more 
ponderous  Methodid  Quarterly,  bristled  with  his  many  utter- 
ances. He  was  the  author  of  the  "  Western  Pioneer,"  in 
two  volumes,  and  a  *'  Key  to  the  Apocalypse."  He  was 
the  recipient  of  several  academic  titles.  In  1834,  Alle- 
gheny College,  Pennsylvania,  conferred  on  him  the  hon- 
orary degree  of  A.  M.,  and  Galesville  University  that  of 
D.  D.  During  his  last  affliction,  although  his  once  stal- 
wart body  wasted  to  a  skeleton,  no  word  of  complaint  fell 
from  his  lips  but  once,  when  he  expressed  a  hope  that  he 
would  soon  be  at  rest.  A  few  days  before  his  death,  he 
said  to  a  ministerial  brother  in  broken  accents:  "The 
name  of  Jesus  never  seemed  so  sweet  to  me  as  now."  The 
power  of  speech  failed  him  for  some  days  before  his  spirit 
fled,  but  he  seemed  conscious  of  what  was  passing  around 
him.  In  his  death  it  may  be  truly  said,  "  A  prince  and  a 
great  man  has  fallen  in  Israel." 

Rev.  J.  L.  Williams  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Pennsylvania,  January  15,  1808,  and  died  in  Lafayette, 
Illinois,  December  16,  1881.  In  1833  he  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  Pittsburg  Conference,  in  which  he  remained 
for  sixteen  years.  In  1849  he  was  transferred  to  the  Wis- 
consin Conference.  In  18^6,  by  change  of  Conference 
boundaries,  he  became  a  member  of  the  West  Wisconsin 
Conference.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  business  of  the 
Annual  Conference.  He  was  the  first  secretary  of  the 
West  Wisconsin  Conference,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
eight  years.  He  was  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  General 
Conference  of  1860.  When  in  his  vigor  he  was  an  able 
preacher,  often  moving  the  entire  audience.  In  debate  he 
had  the  faculty  of  maintaining,  on  his  part,  great  composure 
and   self-possession.     For   many  years    he    was   in   feeble 


ANNALS  OF  ISSl-G.  429 

health,  he  being  superannuated  twenty  years.     He  was  a 
good  man,  and  an  able  minister  of  the  gospel  of  Christ. 

The  twenty-ninth  session  was  held  at  Baraboo,  Septem- 
ber 26,  1883,  Bishop  Hurst  presiding. 

W.  F.  Delap  returned  to  the  Conference  by  transfer,  and 
the  Conference  was  glad  to  welcome  his  return,  he  being 
one  of  the  "Home  Guards"  of  the  Conference.  With 
regret  the  Conference  had  to  part  with  J.  S.  Thompson, 
E.  D.  Huntly,  and  J.  F.  Zeigler  by  transfer.  The  latter, 
however,  saw  the  ** error  of  his  ways,"  and  soon  returned. 
One  was  located  at  his  request,  and  one  was  located  by  the 
Conference. 

The  Conference  was  greatly  entertained  and  edified  by 
the  visit  of  Rev.  B.  H.  Badley,  D.  D.,  and  his  wife,  from 
Lucknow,  India,  who,  by  their  addresses  and  intercourse 
with  the  Conference,  greatly  endeared  themselves  and  the 
cause  they  represented  to  the  Conference.  Brother  and 
Sister  Badley  have  now  been  in  that  distant  and  difficult 
mission-field  seventeen  years,  and  have  done  a  noble  work 
for  our  Church. 

James  Lawson  was  appointed  to  preach  a  centennial 
sermon  at  the  next  Conference. 

Two  ministers  died  during  the  year.  Cyrus  Liscomb 
was  born  in  Vermont,  September  21,  1806,  and  died  at 
New  Richmond,  Wisconsin,  March  28,  1883.  He  preached 
in  his  early  da3^s  in  the  Vermont  and  Troy  Conferences.  In 
1866  he  was  transferred  to  the  Northwest  Wisconsin  Con- 
ference, but  was  only  able  to  do  two  years  of  eflTective  work 
in  that  Conference.  For  fourteen  years  he  was  a  super- 
annuate in  Wisconsin,  and  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy-seven 
years,  he  entered  into  rest. 

James  T.  Pryor  was  born  in  Cornwall,  England,  Sep- 
tember 4,  1814,  and  died  at  Dodgeville,  Wisconsin,  Sep- 
tember 11,  1883.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1842, 
and  settled  in  Mineral  Point.     Soon  after  his  arrival  he  was 


430  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

converted.  In  1851  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Wis- 
consin Conference,  and  by  Conference  division,  in  1856, 
became  a  member  of  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference.  He 
was  effective  for  twenty-four  years,  during  which  he  was 
presiding  elder  for  four  years.  Prior  to  his  death  he  was 
superannuated  for  eight  years,  residing  in  Dodgeville,  near 
his  son  James,  who  is  a  local  preacher,  and  loyal  to  the 
Church  of  his  now  sainted  parents.  Brother  Pryor,  as  a 
preacher,  was  earnest  and  logical,  ever  maintaining  the 
great  fundamental  doctrines  of  our  holy  Christianity.  His 
death  occurred  very  suddenly,  and  he  expired  without  a 
struggle. 

The  delegates  to  the  General  Conference  of  1884  were 
W.  J.  McKay,  M.  Benson,  and  J.  E.  Irish ;  reserves — 
G.  W.  Case  and  H.  Goodsell. 

The  Electoral  Conference  of  Laymen  met  September  28, 
1888,  and  organized  by  the  appointment  of  Ira  A.  Brad- 
ford, president,  and  J.  T.  Pryor,  secretary.  The  Confer- 
ence expressed  itself  by  resolution  as  opposed  to  the  exten- 
sion of  time  of  the  pastoral  office,  fearing  it  would  "  impair 
the  efficiency  of  the  itinerancy."  They  favored  "  universal 
and  absolute  prohibition  of  the  liquor-traffic"  by  State  and 
National  Constitutional  provisions,  and  urged  that  "peti- 
tions should  be  sent  to  the  Legislature  of  the  State  asking 
them  to  submit  to  the  votes  of  the  State  an  amendment 
to  the  State  Constitution  to  prohibit  the  manufacture  and 
sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  as  a  beverage." 

H.  Harnden,  of  Madison,  and  Ira  A.  Bradford,  of 
Augusta,  were  elected  delegates  to  the  General  Conference  ; 
and  F.  L.  Sanborn,  of  Portage,  and  E.  E.  Bentley,  of  La 
Crosse,  reserves. 

John  A.  Willey,  A.  Chalfant,  and  James  Barnett  were 
admitted  on  trial.  The  two  former,  since  their  admission, 
have  taken  the  theological  course  at  Garrett  Biblical  lusti- 


ANNALS  OF  18S1-6.  431 

tute,  Eyanston.     The  latter,  for  six  years,  has  continued  in 
successful  circuit  work. 

The  thirtieth  annual  session  met  at  Eau  Claire,  Sep- 
tember 25,  1884,  Bishop  Mallalieu  presiding. 

This  was  the  fourth  Annual  Conference  held  in  this 
city.  The  first  appointment  of  a  Methodist  minister  to 
this  city  was  in  1859,  and  yet  in  the  short  space  of  twen- 
ty-five years  four  Conference  sessions  meet  there  and  are 
admirably  taken  care  of  by  the  citizens. 

A.  M.  Pilcher  was  received  by  transfer.  He  has  occu- 
pied several  important  stations  in  the  Conference  with  suc- 
cess. He  accomplished  a  much  needed  work  in  Sparta,  in 
remodeling  and  beautifying  the  church  at  that  place. 

Three  were  admitted  on  trial.  Two  of  the  number — 
John  F.  Cowling  and  Frank  Haight — continue  in  the 
ranks,  giving  promise  of  much  usefulness. 

G.  A.  Fulcher  was  received  from  the  Methodist 
Church  of  Canada.  After  being  in  the  Conference  two 
years,  he  was  permitted  to  withdraw. 

D.  M.  Sinclair  was  readmitted  on  credentials  from  the 
Free  Methodist  Church.  He  was  formerly  a  member  of 
the  Genesee  Conference,  and  afterwards,  coming  to  Wis- 
consin, he  labored  several  years  among  the  Free  Method- 
ists, being  presiding  elder  several  years.  He  saw,  however, 
that  the  polity  and  usages  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  presented  greater  "  opportunities  of  usefulness." 
Since  he  joined  our  Conference  he  has  done  good  work. 
He  is  an  able  preacher  and  a  good  pastor. 

The  Conference  passed  the  following  resolution  : 

"  Having  heard  with  pleasure  the  very  able  Centennial 
sermon  preached  by  Rev.  Jas.  Lawson,  and  deeming  the 
same  worthy  of  a  careful  reading  by  all  our  people,  we 
hereby  request  the  author  to  furnish  a  copy  for  the  pub- 
lisher of  our  Minutes,  and  that  the  publisher  be  instructed 


432  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

to  give  the  same  a  place  in   the  Minutes  for  the  present 
year." 

Agreeably  to  this  resolution  the  sermon  was  published. 
Our  space  will  only  permit  the  briefest  review  of  the  dis- 
course. The  author,  after  stating  the  object  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  in  ordering  the  celebration  of  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  December  25, 
1784,  gave  a  review  of  the  progress  of  the  Church  during 
the  century  ;  so  that  at  the  present  the  followers  of  Wesley 
are  so  wide-spread  that  *'  over  five  million  communicants 
are  called  by  his  name ;  over  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
thousand  itinerant  preachers  are  preaching  the  same  sjospel 
he  preached ;  nearly  six  millions  of  children  are  in  Meth- 
odist Sabbath-schools,  and  thirty  millions  of  adherents 
are  under  Methodist  influence."  The  author  then  pro- 
ceeded to  show  what  the  "  influence  of  Methodism  had 
been,  during  the  century,  on  other  denominations  and  on 
the  Nation."  This  influence  he  pointed  out  to  be  that  of 
*'  modifying  the  methods  of  other  Churches,  teaching  them 
the  power  of  woman  in  Christian  work,  shortening  the 
pastorate  of  other  Churches,  in  great  modifications  of  their 
doctrines,  and  in  their  Christian  life  and  experience."  The 
influence  of  Methodism  during  the  century  on  the  Nation, 
he  showed  to  have  been  most  beneficial  in  "  its  loyalty  to 
the  Republic,  in  the  adaptation  of  her  usages  and  doctrines 
to  the  American  people,  in  her  outspoken  sentiments  on  all 
moral  questions,  and  her  beneficial  influence  in  the  actual 
conversion  of  many  millions  of  American  citizens."  Her 
present  prominent  position  in  the  world  was  shown  by 
many  forcible  quotations  from  the  secular  press  of  the 
world,  closing  with  the  immortal  words  of  George  C.  Cook- 
man,  uttered  during  the  Centennial  of  Wesleyan  Method- 
ism, in  1839:  *' Methodism,  like  the  eagle,  has  proudly 
reached  her  centennial ;  but  not  like  the  eagle  to  fold  her 


ANNA  LS  OF  1881-6.  433 

wings,  bow  her  head,  and  die  ;  but  only  to  plume  her  pin- 
ions for  a  loftier  and  grander  flight." 

Measures  were  taken  at  this  session  to  organize  a  Su- 
perannuated Preachers' Endowment  Fund.  A  constitution 
was  adopted,  and  trustees  of  the  fund  appointed,  with  in- 
structions to  secure  its  incorporation.  This  the  trustees 
attended  to,   and  the  society  was  placed  in  working  order. 

Three  ministers  died  during  the  year. 
Rev.  John  Knibbs  was  born   in  Woodstock,  England, 
March  2,  1829,  and  died  at  Prairie  du  Chien,  Wisconsin, 
February  1, 1884.    He  was  educated  at  Oxford  University, 
where  he  remained  for  twelve  years  as  student  or  teacher, 
and  was  there  prepared  for  the  Episcopal  ministry.      He 
came  to  the  United  States  in  1856,  and  immediately  united 
with  the  Methodist   Episcopal  Church.       On   his   uniting 
with  the  Church  in  Prairie  du  Chien,  he  was  given  license 
to  preach,   and   employed,  by   the   presiding  elder,  on  the 
Eastman  Mission.       His  experience  during  this  year  has 
already  been  detailed,  in    which  he  was  crippled   for  life. 
For  twenty-seven  years  he  was  engaged  without  any  inter- 
ruption in  the  ministry,  serving  on  several  of  the  most  im- 
portant stations  in  the  Conference.     AVhen  conscious  of  his 
nearness  to  death,  he  talked  with  his  family  and  made  all 
arrangements  for  his  funeral,  and   said  "that  were  it  not 
for  their  sorrow,  he  would  gladly  go  home  and  be  at  rest." 
He  was  a  very  able  preacher,  a  ripe  scholar,  and  an  exem- 
plary Christian.     He  was  kind  and  congenial  to  all.      He 
lived  to  bless  the  world,  and  did  all  his  work  well. 

Rev.  S.  O.  Browne  was  born  at  Acworth,  New  Hamp- 
shire, September  23,  1821,  and  died  in  Baraboo,  Wisconsin, 
October  21,  1883.  He  was  converted  in  early  life.  In 
1869  he  came  to  Wisconsin  and  was  admitted  on  trial  in 
the  Conference.  He  remained  in  the  active  work  for  seven 
years,  after  which  he  was  supernumerary  for  eight  years. 


484  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

He  was  a  man  of  strong  and  positive  character,  and  had  a 
deep  religious  experience. 

Key.  W.  E.  Eobinson  was  born  September  30,  1857, 
and  was  drowned  in  Lake  Pepin,  December  3,  1883.  He 
was  on  his  first  charge  when  he  met  his  untimely  end.  He 
was  a  young  man  of  fair  promise. 

The  thirty-first  Conference  session  was  held  in  Dodge- 
ville,  September  24,  1885,  Bishop  Bowman  presiding. 

Six  were  admitted  on  trial.  (See  Appendix  D.)  In 
regard  to  their  nationality  they  were  widely  scattered,  two 
being  natives  of  the  United  States,  two  of  England,  one 
of  French,  and  one  of  Welsh  origin,  but  were  all  young 
men  of  promise. 

S.  P.  Blake  was  received  by  transfer  from  the  Michigan 
Conference,  where  he  had  traveled  eleven  years.  In  Wiscon- 
sin he  has  been  cordially  received  by  the  Conference,  and 
upon  the  charges  on  which  he  has  been  pastor  he  has 
been  blest  and  owned  of  God.  On  all  moral  questions 
he  is  in  the  advance,  always  ready  to  strike  heavy  blows 
against  evil. 

One  was  permitted  to  withdraw  if  he  paid  his  debt  at 
the  Book  Concern,  and  one  was  charged  with  "unminis- 
terial  conduct,"  and  the  Conference  ordered  that  he  be 
''  admonished  by  the  bishop." 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Temperance,  at  this 
session,  created  quite  a  discussion.  Some  thought  it  was 
too  outspoken  in  regard  to  those  who,  of  "  two  evils, 
thought  they  chose  the  least "  by  voting  at  the  recent  elec- 
tions in  the  State  for  "  high  license."  After  discussion, 
the  report  of  the  committee  was  substituted  by  the  para- 
graph of  the  Discipline  which  declared  that  ''we  are  unal- 
terably opposed  to  the  enactment  of  laws  that  propose  by 
license,  taxing,  or  otherwise,  to  regulate  the  drink-traffic, 
because  they  provide  for  its  continuance  and  afford  no  pro- 
tection against  its  ravages."     This  substitute  was  adopted 


ANNALS  OF  lSSl-6.  435 

by  the  Conference,  many  voting  for  it  who  were  much  op- 
posed to  the  report  of  the  committee,  though  that  report, 
many  thought,  was  not  near  as  strong  a  protest  against 
license  as  the  substitute  which  was  adopted. 

The  Superannuated  Preachers'  Eudowment  Fund  was 
increased  at  this  Conference.  An  afternoon  was  devoted 
to  its  interests,  and  $1,500  was  pledged,  $650  of  which 
was  from  the  laity  then  present.  This  fund  has  contin- 
ued slowly  to  increase,  so  that  at  the  present  (1889)  it 
amounts  to  $4,355.  There  has  been  no  very  large  amount 
given  to  it  by  any  one  individual,  the  largest  being  $100. 
It  ought  to  receive  the  legacies  and  bequests  of  our  wealthy 
laymen,  and  be  run  up  without  delay  to  $20,000.  The 
society  is  legally  organized  ;  the  trustees,  one-half  of  whom 
are  laymen,  are  true  and  faithful.  The  funds  of  the  so- 
ciety, under  the  able  management  of  Hon.  M.  Herrick,  of 
Hudson,  are  not  only  amply  secured,  but  in  1888  earned 
9J  per  cent. 

Rev.  J.  J.  Austin  died  at  Sechlerville,  Wisconsin, 
May  23,  1885.  He  was  born  February  18,  1838,  in 
Brooklyn,  Ohio.  In  early  life  he  was  converted  and 
united  with  the  Church.  After  preaching  about  twenty 
years  in  the  Troy  Conference,  in  1882  he  was  transferred 
to  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference,  where  he  labored  three 
years,  when  he  was  suddenly  called  away  in  the  midst  of 
his  labors.  His  companion  and  three  children  are  left  to 
mourn  his  loss. 

The  thirty-second  session  met  at  Black  River  Falls, 
September  30,  1886,  Bishop  Merrill  presiding. 

G.  W.  Horton  was  received  by  transfer  from  the  Wis- 
consin Conference. 

Nine  were  admitted  on  trial  (see  Appendix  D),  who, 
with  one  exception,  are  proving  themselves  to  be  good 
workmen  in  the  ministry. 


436  WEST  WISCONSIN'  CONFERENCE. 

W.  S.  Hayes  was  received  on  credentials  from  the 
United  Brethren  Church. 

Hon.  AYm.  Price,  representative  to  Congress,  was  in- 
vited to  address  the  Conference.  He  spoke  very  feelingly 
of  what  Methodist  preachers  had  endured  in  carrying  the 
gospel  to  the  people,  especially  in  the  northwest  part  of 
the  State.  Mr.  Price  had  himself  done  much  in  aiding 
them  in  their  work,  and  that,  "with  his  strong  and  out- 
spoken temperance  sentiments,  made  him  a  general  fa- 
vorite with  the  ministers  of  the  Conference.  It  is  with 
regret  that  we  have  to  record  his  lamented  death  a  few 
weeks  after  this  Conference. 

A  memorial  was  adopted,  to  be  forw^arded  to  Congress, 
asking  that  "  they  would  enact  such  measures  as  would  se- 
cure to  to  the  Chinese  in  the  United  States  the  same  pro- 
tection afforded  to  all  others,  in  life,  liberty,  and  the 
pursuit  of  happiness,  and  asking  that  the  '  Indemnity  Bill ' 
be  passed." 

Three  ministers  died  during  this  year. 

Rev.  J  as.  Hightshoe  was  born  in  Ohio,  April  28, 
1835,  and  died  at  Marble  Rock,  Iowa,  January  27,  1886. 
He  was  converted  in  early  life.  In  1856  he  was  admitted 
into  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference  on  trial.  During  the 
twenty-eight  years  of  his  connection  with  the  Conference, 
on  account  of  physical  debility,  he  was  only  able  to  render 
eight  years  of  effective  service.  He  was  a  deeply  pious  and 
devoted  Christian  man. 

Rev.  Henry  Dockham  was  born  in  Ogdensburg,  'New 
York,  March  16,  1826,  and  died  at  Prescott,  Wisconsin, 
April  24,  1886.  In  1849  he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the 
Bay  of  Quinte  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Canada.  In  1873  he  came  to  Wisconsin  and 
settled  in  business  in  Monroe.  In  1878  he  was  readmitted 
into  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference,  in  which  he  remained 
eight  years,  up   to  the  time  of  his  death.      His  death  w^as 


ANNALS  OF  1881-6.  437 

sudden  aud  unexpected.  He  pursued  his  work  during  the 
day,  and  retired  to  rest  as  usual.  At  about  one  o'clock 
he  complained  to  his  wife  of  being  very  ill,  and  in  about 
one  hour  he  died.  He  was  a  man  of  good  talent,  and  of  a 
pure  spirit. 

Rev.  Edward  McGinley  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1813, 
and  died  at  Avoca,  Wisconsin,  May  15,  1886.  In  1864 
he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Conference.  He  was 
twenty  years  effective  and  two  superannuated.  He  be- 
lieved in  Methodist  theology,  especially  in  the  doctrine  of 
entire  sanctification.  As  a  Christian  he  was  always  happy  ; 
his  prayers  almost  always  ended  in  ecstasies.  There  was  a 
wonderful  influence  in  his  outbursts  of  praise.  His  utter- 
ances of  Amen  !  Hallelujah  !  Glory  be  to  Jesus !  would  often 
inspire  a  whole  congregation  and  lift  it  heavenwards.  In 
his  experience  he  would  often  enthusiastically  say :  "  I  am 
twelve  leagues  above  cloud-line,  and  still  rising,  hallelujah  !" 


438  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


CHAPTER  XL 

WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE,  1S87-9. 

THE  thirty-third  Conference  session  was  held  at  Mineral 
Point,  September  28,  1887,  Bishop  Fowler  presiding. 
O.  H.  P.  Smith  was  received  by  transfer  from  the 
Wisconsin  Conference.  W.  Ingersoll  was  transferred  to 
the  Montana,  and  C.  K.  Kellerraan  to  the  Minnesota  Con- 
ference. H.  C.  Myers,  who  had  traveled  eight  years  in 
the  North  Indiana,  and  H.  W.  Troy  six  years  in  the  Min 
nesota  Conference,  were  readmitted.  The  latter  was 
stationed  at  Coleman  Chapel,  La  Crosse,  wdiere  he  did 
good  work.  He  is  now  the  popular  pastor  at  Black  River 
Falls. 

Seven  were  admitted  on  trial.  (See  Appendix  D.) 
Five  of  the  number  continue  in  the  work,  one  has  been 
transferred  to  Nevada,  while  another  has  been  promoted 
to  his  "  heavenly  home." 

The  Conference  was  greatly  privileged  and  profited  by 
the  visit  of  Rev.  J.  M.  (now  Bishop)  Thoburn,  of  India. 
His  able  sermons  and  addresses  were  greatly  enjoyed.  The 
Conference  and  audience  cheerfully  gave  him  about  S200,  to 
assist  in  forwarding  a  missionary  immediately  to  India. 

A  memorial  was  prepared  and  forwarded  by  the  dele- 
gates to  the  General  Conference,  petitioning  that  body  to 
establish  a  "Board  of  Conference  Claimants."  The  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  1888  organized  such  a  "Board,"  but 
as  yet  its  efficiency  is  not  manifest ;  we  have  no  doubt  but 
that  in  the  near  future  it  will  become  active  and  efficient. 

E.  L.  Eaton,  B.  E.  Wheeler,  and  W.  J.  McKay  were 


ANNALS  OF  1S87-9.  439 

elected  delegates  to  the  General  Conference,  and  J.  Tresid- 
der  and  M.  B.  Balch  reserves. 

The  Lay  Electoral  Conference  held  its  session,  Septem- 
ber 30,  1887.  M.  Herrick,  of  Hudson,  was  elected  pres- 
ident, and  W.  T.  Jennings,  of  Platteville,  secretary.  The 
Lay  Conference  expressed  itself  by  resolution  as  pleased 
with  the  action  of  the  General  Conference  of  1864  in  its 
utterances  on  prohibition.  They  also  again  declared  their 
readiness  to  assist  in  raising  a  permanent  fund  for  the 
superannuated  preachers  of  the  Conference.  The  delegates 
elected  to  the  General  Conference  were,  E.  E.  Bentley,  of 
La  Crosse,  and  J.  B,  Jones,  of  Hudson,  with  P.  J.  Layne, 
of  Viroqua,  and  Jas.  Spensley,  of  Mineral  Point,  reserv^es. 

Two  aged  veterans  died  this  year.  Rev.  J.  C.  Aspen- 
wall  was  born  at  Bradford,  Vt.,  April  5,  1809,  and  died 
in  Lodi,  Wis.,  September  7,  1887.  He  united  with  the 
Maine  Conference  in  1831,  and  remained  in  that  Confer- 
ence for  over  twenty-six  years,  during  four  of  which  he 
was  presiding  elder  and  delegate  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  1852  at  Boston.  In  1857  he  was  transferred  to 
the  Wisconsin,  and  in  1859  to  the  West  Wisconsin  Con- 
ference. He  was  identified  with  the  work  in  Wisconsin 
for  thirty  years,  during  five  of  which  he  was  presiding  elder. 
He  was  a  man  of  strong  aggressive  convictions,  and  on  all 
moral  questions  of  reform  was  always  in  the  advance. 
During  the  years  of  controversy,  through  which  the  Church 
and  Nation  passed  in  regard  to  the  freedom  of  the  colored 
race,  he  was  most  active.  It  was  his  delight  to  admit  that, 
in  those  stirring  days,  ''  he  had  assisted  many  a  slave  on 
their  way  to  Canada."  On  the  question  of  the  prohibition 
of  the  liquor-trafl5c  he  was  equally  active.  He  was  a 
good  preacher.  His  sermons  were  evangelical  to  the  core, 
and  full  of  the  fire  of  the  Spirit.  In  his  Conference  relation 
he  was  pleasant  and  congenial.  For  nearly  thirty  years  he 
drafted  many  of  the  Conference  reports.     His  companion 


440  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

aud  several  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  settled  in  life, 
live  to  revere  the  memory  of  one  they  loved  aud  one  who 
lived  so  long  as  a  "  burning  aud  shining  light."  About 
two  weeks  before  his  death  he  preached  a  sermon  in  the 
city  of  Madison,  on  Old  People's  Day,  selecting  as  his 
theme,  the  ''Ministry  of  Angels."  He  dwelt  feelingly  on 
the  thought  that  angels  "  minister  to  the  saints  at  death." 
TMs  was  his  last  sermon.  Soon  he  experienced  the  blessed 
truth  that  he  preached  to  others,  in  angelic  ministrations 
to  himself  at  death. 

Rev.  Ransom  Gould  died  at  Mount  Vernon,  Iowa,  in 
1887.  He  was  received  on  trial  in  1854.  He  was  only 
effective  in  the  West  Wisconsin  Conference  for  nine  years. 
He  was  a  superannuate  for  twenty-two  years,  which  rela- 
tion he  sustained  at  his  death.  He  was  a  man  of  fair  pul 
pit  abilities,  and  to  his  death  maintained  a  good  Christian 
character. 

F.  AY.  Straw  was  received  from  the  Canada  Conference, 
and  elected  to  deacon's  orders.  In  1866  he  went  to  Garrett 
Biblical  Institute,  Evanston,  to  pursue  a  three  year's  course, 
and  was  employed  as  a  supply  up  to  the  time  of  his 
graduation. 

The  thirty-fourth  session  of  the  Conference  met  at  Mau- 
ston,  October  3,  1888,  Bishop  Andrews  presiding. 

F.  H.  Harvey,  John  N.  Mills,  E.  F.  Marcellus,  W.  M. 
Martin,  G.  W.  Merrifield,  and  C.  W.  Bennett  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  Conference.  The  latter  is  one  of  the  pro- 
fessors in  Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  a  ripe  scholar,  a  min- 
ister of  thirty-two  years'  experience,  and  the  author  of 
several  valuable  theological  works.  All  of  the  brethren 
received  by  transfer  this  year  were  fine  accessions,  and  were 
all  heartily  welcomed  to  the  Conference.  Seven  were  ad- 
mitted on  trial  (see  Appendix  D) — a  class  which  the 
bishop,  in  view  of  their  age,  education,  and  devotedness, 
called  '*  a  promising  class  of  candidates." 


ANNALS  OF  1887-9.  441 

Dr.  J.  O.  Peck  visited  the  Conference  as  representa-f 
tive  of  the  Missionary  Board.  He  greatly  interested  and 
impressed  the  Conference  with  his  thrilling  representation 
of  the  mission-field. 

E.  B.  Russell,  after  over  thirty  years  of  unceasing  labor 
in  the  itinerant  life,  was  compelled  to  retire.  The  Confer- 
ence expressed  its  regret  at  parting  with  him  from  the  active 
work,  and  promised  to  welcome  his  return  (should  he  ever 
be  able)  to  the  eflfective  ranks. 

The  Conference  this  year  adopted  the  method  of  ap- 
pointing the  "  standing  committees  "  for  the  succeeding  year, 
thus  giving  more  time  for  the  preparation  of  their  reports. 

Two  aged  members  of  the  Conference  died  this  year. 
Rev.  W.  B.  Hazletine  was  born  in  Middletown,  Vt.,  May 
22,  1816,  and  died  at  Mazomanie,  June  13, 1888.  He  was 
received  on  trial  in  the  Troy  Conference  in  1843,  and  for 
twelve  years  labored  in  that  Conference.  In  1856  he 
came  to  Wisconsin,  and  at  the  first  session  of  the  West 
Wisconsin  Conference,  he  was  readmitted.  For  twenty-six 
years  he  labored  successfully  on  various  important  charges 
in  the  Conference,  and  during  four  of  these  years  he  was 
presiding  elder.  For  seven  years  he  was  superannuated, 
but  continued  to  preach  whenever  he  was  able.  He  was  a 
man  of  thought.  He  prepared  and  preached  his  own  ser- 
mons. As  a  preacher,  when  at  his  best,  it  would  not  have 
been  any  easy  work  to  find  his  peer.  Only  a  few  years  ago 
his  son  Theodore,  a  member  of  the  Rock  River  Conference, 
died  in  the  prime  of  life.  His  son  William  resides  near 
Baraboo,  deeply  attached  to  the  Church  in  which  his  father 
lived  and  died.  He  is  an  able,  efiicient,  and  consistent 
Christian.  Sister  Hazletine,  a  truly  devout  and  intelligent 
Christian  lady,  resides  on  the  old  homestead  near  Baraboo. 

Rev.  W.  H.  Thomson  was  born  in  Tyringham,  Massa- 
chusetts, October  7,  1817,  and  died  April  19,  1888.  He 
was  converted  when  young  in  a  prayer- meeting  under  the 

37 


442  WEST   WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE, 

leadership  of  ''Old  John  Brown."  He  was  received  on 
trial  in  the  Wisconsin  Conference  in  1850.  In  1852,  after 
the  devastating  "  snow-storm,"  he  was  stationed  in  Madi- 
son, where  he  succeeded  in  quieting  the  troubled  waters, 
and  measurably  restoring  peace  in  that  place.  The  first 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Madison  was  finished  and 
dedicated  during  his  pastorate,  much  of  the  work  on  the 
church  being  done  with  his  own  hands.  AVhile  pastor  in 
Baraboo  in  1853,  he  instituted  a  system  of  uniform  lessons 
in  the  Sabbath -school,  having  the  text  and  topic  for  the 
entire  year  printed.  He  was  thus  many  years  in  advance 
of  the  later  "Berean"  idea.  He  was  for  thirty  years  a 
superannuated  member  of  the  Conference,  residing  most 
of  that  time  in  Chicago.  During  his  long  residence  in 
Chicago,  he  was  engaged,  as  far  as  his  strength  would  per- 
mit, in  mission-work  in  that  city.  He  organized  and  car- 
ried on  a  Sabbath-school  among  the  Chinese.  They  learned 
to  love  him,  and  many  a  Chinese  in  that  city  will  tell  to 
others  their  indebtedness  to  "Good  Brudder  Thom  Sing." 

The  thirty-fifth  Annual  Conference  met  in  Sparta, 
September  18,  1889,  Bishop  Newman  presiding. 

The  Conference  was  honored  with  the  presence  of  Dr. 
Hobart  and  his  wife,  from  Minnesota.  He  presided  at  the 
Conference  love-feast.  All  felt  that  to  him,  Methodism  in 
Wisconsin  was  more  indebted  than  to  any  other  man. 
Chaplain  McCabe  was  also  present,  and  with  his  songs  and 
addresses  greatly  entertained  the  Conference. 

Nine  most  promising  young  men  were  admitted  on 
trial  (see  Appendix  D),  one  being  the  son  of  Rev.  A.  M. 
Pilcher,  of  Sparta. 

David  Whiting  was  received  by  transfer  from  the  Wis- 
consin Conference.  He  was  ordained  in  the  Free-will 
Baptist  Church  in  the  State  of  New  York.  In  1873  he 
was  received  on  his  credentials  into  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  In  1879  he  came  to  Wisconsin,  and  in  1880 
was  admitted  on  trial  into  the  Wisconsin  Conference,  and 


ANNALS  OF  18S7-9.  443 

was  successful  during  the  nine  years  in  which  he  remained 
in  that  Conference.  He  is  now  in  his  second  year  on  the 
Benton  Circuit. 

E.  W.  Allen,  A.  H.  Yokum,  K.  Burnip,  J.  I.  Bar- 
toloraew,  and  E.  L.  Eaton  were  transferred  to  other  Con- 
ferences to  the  regret  of  the  brethren. 

A  new  feature  of  this  Conference  was  a  half-hour  lec- 
ture by  Bishop  Newman  each  morning  on  "  Appliances, 
Means,  and  Methods  "  for  successful  work  in  the  ministry. 
These  lectures  were  very  entertaining  and  instructive,  both 
to  young  and  old. 

A  resolution  was  passed  looking  towards  arrangements 
by  the  two  Conferences  in  the  State  for  a  proper  observ- 
ance of  the  Semi-centennial  of  the  first  Annual  Confer- 
ence held  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  which  convened  in 
Platteville,  August  25,  1841.  A  committee  was  appointed 
to  confer  with  a  similar  committee  of  the  Wisconsin  Con- 
ference. The  joint  committees  met  in  Beaver  Dam,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1889,  and  after  due  consultation  agreed  to 
recommend  the  observance  of  that  event  by  the  two  An- 
nual Conferences  (if  it  be  possible)  holding  a  reunion  dur- 
ing their  sessions  of  1891,  and  that  each  Conference  at 
their  sessions  of  1890  adopt  suitable  plans  for  its  observ- 
ance through  the  two  Conferences. 

The  dividend  from  the  Book  Concern  to  the  Confer- 
ence was  a  most  liberal  one,  amounting  to  $1,023.  The 
^nearest  approach  to  this  amount  was  in  1851,  when  the 
Conference  received  $800  from  the  Book  Concern. 

An  increase  of  1,019  members  and  $1,121  missionary 
collections  was  reported  this  year. 

Jas.  Lawson,  E.  Bradford,  Jr.,  Professor  J.  C.  Free- 
man, and  Professor  R.  B.  Dudgeon  were  appointed  dele- 
gates to  the  Ecumenical  Conference  of  Methodism,  to  be 
held  in  the  United  States  in  1891;  and  M.  B.  Balch  and 
Jas.  Spensley,  alternates. 

The    West   Wisconsin    Conference    Historical  Society 


444  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

was  organized,  and  a  constitution  adopted.  Its  object  is  ''  to 
collect  and  preserve  such  records,  reminiscences,  memorials, 
and  relics  as  are  connected  with  the  rise  and  progress  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  (having  more  special  ref- 
erence to  Wisconsin),  and  to  promote  and  disseminate  a 
knowledge  of  Methodist  history  by  means  of  addresses,  es- 
says, and  public  meetings."  The  following  officers  of  this  so- 
ciety were  elected:  B.  E.  Wheeler,  president;  I.  F.  Nuzum, 
recording  secretary  ;  Jas.  Lawson,  corresponding  secretary  ; 
F.  W.  Hall,  archivist ;  and  M.  B.  Balch,  treasurer. 

The  Conference  favored  the  organization  of  a  "Mutual 
Church  and  Parsonage  Insurance  Company,"  believing 
that  we  could  in  that  way  insure  our  churches  and  parson- 
ages at  a  much  cheaper  rate  than  was  offered  by  any  other 
company. 

A  communication  was  addressed  to  the  Conference  in 
regard  to  ''  Chaplains  in  the  Army,"  from  which  it  ap- 
peared that,  out  of  134  posts  in  the  United  States  Army, 
only  34  were  provided  with  chaplains.  The  Conference 
urged  that  "  our  senators  and  representatives  in  Congress 
should  see  that  this  delinquency  should  be  rectified  by  the 
appointment  of  men  to  those  posts  who  should  represent 
the  vigor,  intellect,  and  piety  of  the  Church." 

A  West  Wisconsin  Conference  Epworth  League  was 
organized  and  a  constitution  adopted.  The  following  officers 
were  elected :  B.  E.  Wheeler,  president ;  S.  W.  Trous- 
dale, corresponding  secretary  ;  B.  Nott,  recording  secretary ; 
and  A.  M.  Pilcher,  treasurer.  This  organization  is  fast 
growing  in  popularity  with  the  young  people  of  the  Church 
and  congregation.  It  promises  to  be  a  power  for  good  in 
the  near  future. 

Five  brethren  died  during  the  year.  Key.  Wm.  Haw 
was  born  near  Ripon,  England,  February  22,  1836,  and 
died  at  Monroe,  Wis.,  October  13,  1888.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  was  converted  at  a  camp-meeting  near  Platte- 
ville,   Wis.,    and    united    with    the    Methodist  Episcopal 


ANNALS  OF  1887-9.  445 

Church.  At  the  first  session  of  the  West  Wisconsin  Con- 
ference, in  1856,  he  was  admitted  on  trial.  In  1860,  by 
the  organization  of  the  Northwest  Wisconsin  Conference, 
he  became  a  member  of  'that  body,  where  he  remained 
during  the  eight  years  of  its  existence.  In  1868,  that 
Conference  being  merged  in  the  West  Wisconsin  Confer- 
ence, he  became  a  member  of  it,  and  remained  in  it  for 
twenty  years,  filling  successfully  several  important  ap- 
pointments to  the  time  of  his  death.  During  his  ministry 
of  thirty-three  years,  he  was  presiding  elder  for  ten  years. 
He  was  delegate  to  the  General  Conferences  of  1876  and 
1880.  As  a  preacher  he  excelled.  His  sermons  were  ar- 
ranged with  great  care,  and  were  both  on  his  memory  and 
heart.  He  was  a  safe  and  wise  counselor,  and  his  judg- 
ment generally  correct.  His  death  was  sudden  and  un- 
expected. The  evening  before  his  death  he  retired  to  rest, 
apparently  well ;  about  four  o'clock  the  next  morning  his 
companion  was  awakened  by  his  making  strange  and  unin- 
telligible sounds.  She  spoke  to  him,  but  received  no  an- 
swer. Medical  aid  was  called,  but  it  was  in  vain.  He  never 
spoke,  but  lingered  until  about  six  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  his 
spirit  fled  to  the  regions  of  the  blest.  His  companion,  in 
about  three  months  after  his  death,  joined  his  society  again 
in  the  home  of  the  blest. 

J.  M.  Wells  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  July 
24,  1815,  and  died  in  Arkansaw,  Wis.,  October  30,  1888. 
In  1849  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Wisconsin.  In  1851 
he  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  Wisconsin  Conference,  and 
by  change  of  boundaries  in  1856  became  a  member  of  the 
West  Wisconsin  Conference.  During  the  thirty  two  years 
in  this  Conference  he  was  effective  nineteen,  located  eight, 
and  superannuated  five  years.  He  was  a  good  preacher, 
Wesleyan  in  doctrine,  and  sound  in  the  faith,  winning  many 
souls  to  Christ. 

Rev.  p.  K.  Jones  was  born  at  Cape  Vincent,  New 
York,  May  18,  1851,  and  died  at  Eau  Claire,  Wis.,  May 


446  WEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

30,  1889.  He  was  in  early  life  left  an  orphan,  being 
thrown  entirely  on  his  own  resources.  At  a  camp-meet- 
ing in  his  seventeenth  year  he  was  converted,  and  from 
that  time  became  an  active  worker,  especially  among  the 
colored  people  and  the  lower  classes.  In  1874  he  came  to 
Wisconsin,  and  in  1876  was  admitted  on  trial  in  the  West 
Wisconsin  Conference.  For  ten  years  he  did  noble  work  on 
his  charges,  and  never  failed  to  have  an  extensive  revival. 
His  health  failing,  in  1887  he  was  made  supernumerary. 
He  was  a  kind  husband,  an  indulgent  father,  a  tireless 
worker,  and  a  fearless,  faithful  preacher.  After  a  brief 
sickness,  he  died  triumphantly  in  the  full  assurance  of  faith. 

Rev.  W.  S.  Hayes  was  born  December  27,  1846,  and 
died  at  Judah,  Wis.,  January  16,  1889.  In  1875  he 
joined  the  Rock  River  Conference  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  remaining  with  them  until  1885,  when  he  was  re- 
ceived on  his  credentials  into  the  West  Wisconsin  Confer- 
ence, in  which  he  labored  three  years,  until  the  Master 
called  him  home.  His  last  moments  were  triumphant, 
saying:   "Praise  God,  deliverance  has  come!" 

Rev.  Fred.  F.  Lewis  was  born  in  the  town  of  Green, 
Pa.,  May  27,  1855,  and  died  at  Argyle,  January  31,  1889. 
He  was  converted  in  early  life.  In  1887  he  was  admitted 
on  trial  in  the  Conference,  and  returned  to  Sextonville 
charge,  upon  which  he  had  traveled  the  previous  year.  In 
1888,  very  soon  after  Conference,  he  was  taken  sick,  and 
realizing  that  his  work  was  done,  he  went  to  the  home  of 
his  father,  the  Rev.  T.  J.  Lewis,  at  Argyle.  There  he 
lingered  for  a  few  months,  until  he  exchanged  labor  for 
rest  and  earth  for  heaven.  He  was  a  young  man  of  prom- 
ise, being  studious,  energetic,  and  pious.  His  death  was 
a  complete  triumph  over  the  "  last  enemy." 

W.  W.  Wheaton  and  W.  H.  McMillan  were  super- 
annuated— the  former  having  been  twentysix  and  the  latter 
seventeen  years  in  the  work. 


Part  IV. 


HISTORY  OF  OTHER  METHODIST  BODIES. 


PRIMITIVE  METHODIST  CHURCH. 

EVERY  intelligent  reader  understands  that  the  form  of 
Christianity  designated  as  Methodism  originated  in 
England,  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century.*  For  sev- 
eral years  all  adherents  thereto  were  known  as  Wesleyans, 
or  Wesleyan  Methodists. 

At  length  secessions  from  the  main  body  occurred.  One 
of  these  culminated  in  the  formation  of  what  was  called 
the  Primitive  Methodist  Society.  It  seems  to  have  had  a 
providential  mission  in  that  country. 

The  year  1842  is  the  date  of  its  inception  in  Wiscon- 
sin. In  that  year  several  persons,  who  had  been  members 
of  the  society  just  named,  in  England,  residing  in  South- 
western Wisconsin  and  Northwestern  Illinois,  formed  them- 
selves into  a  similar  organization.  Their  names  were  John 
Leekley,  Margaret  Leekley,  Robert  Hodgson,  Jane  Hodg- 
son, Richard  Hodgson,  Mary  Ann  Hodgson,  F.  Dobson, 
James  Thompson,  and  Mary  Leekley. 

As  these  resided  on  either  side  of  the  line  between 
the  States  just  named,  we  know  not  how  many  were  within 
our  territory. 


*The  first   society   was   formed  by  Mr.  Wesley,  October 
25,  1739. 


448  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

Their  first  Quarterly  Conference  was  held  at  Grant 
Hill,  near  Galena,  February  25,  1843.  At  this  they  ''  en- 
gaged an  itinerant  preacher,  and  made  suitable  regulations 
for  carrying  forward  the  work  of  God."  Their  organiza- 
tion seems  yet  to  have  been  incomplete.  So,  on  the  7th 
of  September,  1844,  a  convention  was  held,  at  which  an 
Annual  Conference  was  "appointed,  and  a  Discipline 
adopted."  Meanwhile  "  a  second  itinerant  preacher"  had 
been  called  into  the  work.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  they 
entered  this  field  about  ten  years  after  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  did.  The  writer  has  not  been  able  to  as- 
certain the  number  of  members  at  the  time  of  their  com- 
fleted  organization;  but  from  the  "Introduction"  to  their 
Hscipline  it  would  seem  they  had  greatly  prospered  since 
their  beginning. 

Their  work  in  Wisconsin  now  stands  connected  with 
what  is  called  ' '  The  Western  Conference  "  (there  being 
another  in  the  more  Eastern  States),  which  embraces  pas- 
toral charges  also  in  Illinois,  Michigan,  Iowa,  and  one  in 
Haw  Mexico — in  all,  twenty-four.  Of  these,  thirteen  are 
m  Wisconsin. 

The  reader  is  here  furnished  with  a  statistical  summary 

-110  '' 

from  the  Minutes  of  their  last  (forty-fifth)  Conference  : 

.j{)  I  Effective  preachers    (i.  e.,  those  in  the  active 

pastoral  work), 13 

.  Superannuate, 1 

"'*'  Pastoral  charges 13 

■S^'  Local  preachers, 38 

,ji<>  "Approved  members,'' 1,249 

On   trial, 106 

^  Sunday-schools, 27 

.  \  Scholars  in  same, 1,864 

"^''  Church  edifices, 33 

Parsonages, 13 

Valuation  of  Church  property $51,250 

T)({  Mission  Fund, 421 

Bible  Society  Fund, 20 


PRIMITIVE  METHODIST  CHURCH.  449 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  advance  of  this  branch  of  Meth- 
odism in  Wisconsin  has  been  small.  As  their  work  is 
mainly  among  a  certain  class  of  English  people,  some  have 
doubted  whether  they  have  a  divine  mission  in  Wisconsin. 
Yet  they  may  have  brought  some  to  Christ  who  would  not 
have  been  reached  by  any  other  agency.  Their  continu- 
ance as  a  separate  body  must  be  determined  by  a  con- 
viction of  their  own  responsibility.  Far  be  it  from  this 
writer  to  forbid  their  "  casting  out  devils  because  they 
follow  not  with  us."^ 


450  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 


METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN,  AMONG  THE 
GERMANS.  ;, 

THIS  is  an  important  branch  of  evangelistic  work  in 
our  State.  It  has  been  carried  on  by  two  distinct 
ecclesiastical  bodies;  viz.,  the  Evangelical  Association  and 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  These  will  be  treated  in 
the  order  of  their  introduction  into  Wisconsin. 

The  Evangelical  Association  originated  in  Pennsylvania 
about  the  beginning  of  this  century.  One  Jacob  Albright, 
a  German  local  jjreaeher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
had  been  preaching  among  his  countrymen  in  the  eastern 
part  of  that  State  with  great  success  for  a  few  years.  See- 
ing himself  at  the  head  of  an  extensive  religious  move- 
ment, and  being  unambitious  for  fame,  he  desired  Bishop 
Asbury  to  take  those  thus  brought  to  God  under  his  care 
by  recognizing  them  as  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  furnishing  them  with  pastors.  But  the 
bishop  did  not  think  it  wise  to  connect  this  with  the  En- 
glish work.  Hence,  Mr.  Albright  was  shut  up  to  one  of 
two  things — either  to  leave  these  people  without  proper 
pastoral  care,  or  to  organize  them  into  a  body  and  supply 
them  with  the  ordinances  of  religion.  He  very  wisely 
chose  the  latter,  and  in  the  year  1800  the  organization  was 
effected. 

They  are  a  zealous,  successful,  and  influential  people — 
the  most  numerous  of  any  branch  of  Methodism  among  the 
foreign  population  of  this  country.  In  doctrine  they  are 
identical  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  very 
similar    in    polity.     They  are    episcopal    in    government, 


AMONG  THE  GERMANS.  451 

though  this  word  is  not  a  part  of  their  corporate  name. 
Their  bishops  and  presiding  elders  are  elected  quad- 
rennially. 

In  1840  their  work  began  in  this  State  under  the  min- 
istry of  Eev.  John  Lutz — a  young  man  "  full  of  faith  and 
power."  Milwaukee  and  vicinity  were  the  scene  of  his 
labors. 

The  writer  made  definite  arrangement  for  a  full  ac- 
count of  this  department  of  Wisconsin  Methodism;  but 
failing  to  obtain  it,  the  Eev.  John  L.  Stroebel,  late  pastor 
of  the  Church  of  this  denomination  in  Appleton,  has  kindly 
furnished  the  following  condensed  sketch,  which  must 
suffice:  "The  first  class  was  organized  in  the  town  of 
Greenfield,  and  E.  G.  Eslinger,  one  of  the  late  ministers, 
was  elected  as  class-leader.  Our  first  church  was  built  at 
Milwaukee,  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Cedar  Streets. 
The  beginning  was  hard  and  full  of  sacrifice ;  but  with 
God's  help  the  work  prospered  and  spread  from  year  to 
year.  We  now  have  six  churches  in  Milwaukee,  with  a 
membership  of  over  one  thousand.  We  also  have  churches 
in  all  the  principal  cities  and  villages  of  the  State.  The 
total  number  of  preachers  in  charge  in  the  State  is  80, 
and  the  local  preachers  30;  total  membership,  11,588. 
Church  edifices,  165,  valued  at  $340,437 ;  parsonages,  62, 
valued  at  $77,200  ;  Sunday-schools,  184 ;  officers  and  teach- 
ers, 2,057  ;  scholars,  10,000.  The  prospects  of  our  Church 
for  the  future  were  never  better  than  at  present,  the 
Church  being  in  a  growing  condition.  In  a  great  many 
places  our  work  is  carried  on  in  the  English  language,  and 
many  of  our  preachers  officiate  in  both  languages." 

It  is  due  this  denomination  to  add  that,  like  every 
other  branch  of  Methodism  in  this  country,  they  stand  in 
antagonism  to  the  liquor-traffic — the  greatest  scourge  and 
curse  of  the  present  age. 


452  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 


THE  GERMAN  WORK, 

IN  CONNECTION  WITH  THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL 
CHURCH  IN  WISCONSIN. 

THIS  has  never  been  a  part  of  the  Wisconsin  Confer- 
ence.    On  this  acconnt,  and  as  a  matter  of  conven- 
ience, it  is  noticed  in  this  part  of  our  history. 

The  general  work  of  evangelism  among  the  Germans 
by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  began,  in  1835,  by  the 
conversion  and  subsequent  labors  of  William  Nast,  who 
still  remains  to  witness  its  continued  progress.  He  was 
born  on  the  15th  of  June,  1807,  in  the  city  of  Stuttgart,  in 
the  kingdom  of  Wurtemberg,  Germany,  and  educated  at 
the  university  of  Tubingen  for  a  minister  in  the  State 
Church.  The  widely  known  David  Friedrich  Strauss  was 
one  of  his  class-mates;  but  what  a  contrast  in  the  results 
of  their  lives !  Strauss,  prostituting  his  extensive  erudi- 
tion and  brilliant  talents  to  the  destruction  of  evangelical 
faith,  probably  never  awakened  an  aspiration  for  a  better 
life,  nor  led  to  a  serious  consideration  as  to  God's 
design  in  man's  creation.  Nast,  as  we  shall  see,  inaugu- 
rated a  movement  that  has  already  rescued  tens  of  thou- 
sands from  vicious  lives,  and  lifted  them  to  the  relation  of 
"  sons  and  daughters"  of  the  "  Lord  Almighty."  After  a 
long  and  painful  struggle  for  light,  he  was  brought  into  a 
clear  experience  of  salvation  through  Christ,  at  a  camp- 
meeting  held  near  the  Monongahela  River  in  1835.  The 
same  year  he  was  received  into  the  Ohio  Conference,  and 
appointed  missionary  to  the  Germans  in  Cincinnati.  For 
some  time  he  saw  little  fruit;  but  at  length  the  promise. 


THE  GERMAN  WORK.  453 

**  In  due  time  ye  shall  reap  if  ye  faint  not,"  was  verified. 
The  work  spread  in  every  direction,  and  with  mighty 
power,  till  now  it  numbers  over  eighty  thousand  commu- 
nicants in  the  United  States,  included  in  seven  Annual 
Conferences.  Nor  is  this  all.  One  Conference  in  Europe, 
several  religious  periodicals,  colleges,  and  other  literary 
institutions  of  high  grade,  have  grown  out  of  this  work  ; 
and  Dr.  Nast,  in  a  green  old  age,  with  the  blessings  of 
thousands  that  were  ready  to  perish,  on  his  head,  is 
calmly  awaiting  the  call  of  the  Master  to  a  better  in- 
heritance. 

In  the  summer  of  1846  the  now  sainted  Schreck,  pastor 
of  the  German  work  at  Quincy,  111. ,  visited  Milwaukee  on 
a  missionary  tour,  and  the  next  fall  was  appointed  mission- 
ary to  that  city.  This  was  the  beginning  of  our  German 
work  in  Wisconsin.  The  difficulties  encountered  were 
many  and  severe.  Dr.  L.  S.  Jacoby,  the  presiding  elder 
of  Quincy  District,  in  which  Milwaukee  was  included,  pro- 
nounced them  worse  than  they  had  found  at  any  other 
place.  Mr.  Schreck  commenced  his  public  work  in  a 
room  on  Cedar  Street,  near  West  Water.  In  1847  several 
German  Methodist  families  arrived  from  New  York  City, 
thus  greatly  encouraging  him  in  his  work. 

The  first  class  consisted  of  six  ;  the  three  first-named 
having  brought  Church  letters  from  New  York ;  viz. , 
Jacob  Schreck,  Christina  Schreck,  Maria  Koth,  Karolina 
Schmidt,  Regina  Rheinfrauk,  and  David  Rheinfrauk.  A 
Sabbath-school  was  soon  formed  with  twenty  scholars. 

Wm.  Madlung  was  sent  the  same  year  to  explore  the 
German  settlements  in  the  adjacent  country,  and  thus  lay 
the  foundation  for  further  work. 

In  1847  a  Wisconsin  District  was  formed,  with  *'  Con- 
rad Eisemeier  presiding  elder." 

At  the  same  time  Casper  Jost,  a  very  talented  minister 
was  appointed  to  Milwaukee.     Under  his  pastorate  the  first 


454  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

German  Methodist  church  edifice  was  commenced,  and 
carried  so  far  towards  completion  that  services  were  held 
in  it  on  and  after  the  first  Sabbath  in  November,  1848.  To 
accomplish  this  cost  the  pastor  much  toil  at  home  and 
abroad.  At  the  close  of  his  second  year  there  he  reported 
forty  members  and  twenty  probationers.  The  church  cost 
$3,200,  three-fourths  of  which  had  been  collected  and  paid. 
This  was  wonderful  success.  Philip  Barth  was  pastor 
from  1849  to  1851,  and  Wm.  Schreck  again  for  the  next 
year,  and  Louis  Tuny  for  the  two  years  following.  G.  L. 
Mulfinger  was  in  charge  of  the  district.  In  1854  John 
Plank  succeeded  him  as  presiding  elder,  and  Jacob  Haas 
was  appointed  pastor  at  Milwaukee,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  and  was  succeeded  by  Fred  Schuler.  This  able 
minister  also  remained  two  years,  and  then  followed  John 
Plank  as  presiding  elder  of  the  district.  He  was  succeeded 
on  the  district  by  Peter  Himers.  The  two  last  named 
have  entered  into  rest — Himers  in  March,  1887,  and  Plank 
in  February,  1890. 

In  1860,  C.  A.  Loeber,  D.  D.,  one  of  the  strongest  men 
in  German  Methodism,  was  pastor  at  Milwaukee,  and  was 
very  successful.  He  was  followed  by  G.  L.  Mulfinger,  an- 
other distinguished  minister,  and  his  labors  there  were  also 
"  wonderfully  blessed."  In  1864  two  were  appointed  — 
Fred  Schuler,  with  F.  Kinder  as  assistant.  By  their 
faithful  labors  they  paved  the  way  for  a  second  church. 
Mr.  Schuler  remained  three  years,  and  was  followed  by 
F.  Kopp,  who  was  succeeded  by  J.  W.  Roecker. 

In  1870,  John  Schnell  was  pastor  of  this  First 
Church,  as  it  now  began  to  be  called.  He  remained  three 
years  as  pastor,  and  one  year  as  financial  agent.  The 
object  of  this  agency  was  to  raise  funds  to  erect  a  larger 
edifice,  which  was  greatly  needed.  As  he  was  away  much 
of  the  time,  F.  C.  Allert,  a  rising  young  minister,  was  ap- 


THE  GERMAN  WOBK.  455 

pointed  his  assistant ;  and  during  their  term  of  service  the 
new  church  was  completed  and  paid  for.  It  stands  on  the 
corner  of  Elventh  and  Chestnut  Streets. 

The  pastors  following  these  were  Peter  Himers  (ap- 
pointed in  1874),  Fred.  Kinder,  Kichard  Frickenseker, 
Chas.  Swert,  each  three  years;  Wm.  Keller,  two  years; 
and  Henry  Lerupke,  the  present  incumbent. 

SECOND  CHURCH. 

This  was  an  outgrowth  of  the  First  German  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  in  Milwaukee.  In  1865,  during  F. 
Schuler's  second  pastorate  of  the  First  Church,  many  of 
his  members  lived  in  the  Sixth  Ward,  far  away  from  the 
church,  and  the  need  of  one  nearer  was  severely  felt. 
Accordingly  lots  were  secured  on  Third  Street,  between 
Harmon  and  Loyd,  and  a  church  edifice  erected. 

The  first  pastor  was  Richard  Frickenseker,  who  alter- 
nated with  Mr.  Schuler,  pastor  of  the  First  Church,  in 
pulpit  labor.  His  three  years'  pastorate  was  very  success- 
ful, many  being  brought  to  God.  His  successors  were 
Jacob  Bletsch  and  Henry  Wegner,  each  three  years ; 
John  Schnell,  two  years;  J.  J.  Keller,  three  years;  R. 
Frickenseker,  one;  Fred.  Kinder,  two;  G.  H.  Simons, 
three ;  C.  Hedler,  two ;  and  E.  J.  Funk,  one. 

In  Mr.  Hedler's  pastorate  his  Church  was  greatly  dis- 
turbed by  the  Seventh-day  Adventists,  whose  special 
work  seems  to  be  to  tear  down  other  Churches,  rather  than 
lead  sinners  to  repentance.  But  he  proved  equal  to  the 
emergency,  and  greatly  endeared  himself  to  his  people. 
Under  Mr.  Funk's  administration  the  church  property  on 
Third  Street  was  sold,  and  a  very  large,  elegant  edifice 
erected  on  the  corner  of  Garfield  Avenue  and  Second 
Streets. 

B.  Lampert,  now  doing  grand   work   in   the   temper- 


456  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

ance  cause  in  Chicago,  was  its  next  pastor,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1889  by  H.  Meyer,  who  is  still  doing  good  work 

there. 

THIRD    CHURCH. 

In  1875  a  mission  was  commenced  on  the  south  side 
of  Menomomee  Kiver,  which  eventuated  in  the  formation 
of  this  Church.  A  house  of  worship  and  parsonage  were 
erected  on  Fifth  Avenue.  J.  C.  Kinder,  S.  F.  Fritz,  W. 
Wilke,  Wm.  Keller,  Mr.  Deibold,  H.  Lembe,  and  A. 
Meixner  have  been  its  pastors.  The  last  named  is  there 
still,  in  his  second  year. 

During  Mr.  Keller's  pastorate  the  location  of  the  church 
was  changed  from  Fifth  Avenue  to  Mineral  Street. 

EMANUEL    (FOURTH)    CHURCH. 

•  This  was  an  outgrowth  of  the  Second  Church.  Wm. 
Wilke,  its  first  pastor,  appointed  in  1881,  secured  the 
erection  of  a  house  of  worship  40x60  feet  on  Center  Street ; 
and  in  W.  Keller's  pastorate,  who  succeeded  him  in  1883, 
a  parsonage  was  built.  C.  Swert,  J.  C.  Kinder,  and  C.  F. 
AUert — the  present  pastor — were  his  successors. 

FIFTH    CHURCH. 

Early  in  1885,  after  due  consultation,  it  was  decided 
to  organize  another  pastoral  charge.  Lots  were  soon  pur- 
chased on  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Wright  Streets  for  $975, 
and  a  church  edifice,  60x36  feet,  was  built  during  the  fol- 
lowing summer. 

At  the  ensuing  Conference  (1885),  J.  A.  Mulfinger 
was  appointed  its  first  pastor ;  and  during  his  two  years' 
service  the  church  was  paid  for  and  a  parsonage  erected. 
Jacob  Schaefer,  its  second  pastor,  is  still  in  his  work  there, 
succeeding  well. 

Thus  far  this  sketch  has  been  confined  to  German 
Methodism  in  Milwaukee ;    and  though    the  hardest  field 


THE  GERMAN  WORK.  457 

this  evangelistic  agency  had  ever  entered,  it  has  succeeded 
so  well  that  five  growing  Churches  are  there  in  active 
work.     But  it  was  not  confined  to  Milwaukee. 

It  has  been  already  stated  that  Wm.  Madlung  was  ap- 
pointed in  1847  to  assist  Mr.  Schreck.  His  work  was  to 
explore  the  country.  He  did  this  with  great  success, 
preaching  and  forming  societies  in  several  different  counties. 
P.  Lalk  and  others  followed  in  similar  work,  until  every 
part  of  the  State  where  there  were  German  communities 
was  pretty  thoroughly  canvassed.  Of  course  some  fields  were 
more  fruitful  that  others,  which,  in  part,  was  due  to  the 
different  degrees  in  which  the  people  were  intrenched  in 
superstition  and  infidelity.  Still  wonders  of  grace  pre- 
vailed extensively. 

Several  places  were  very  'productive  of  ministers  to  supply 
the  growing  work.  From  West  Bend  and  the  region 
around,  thirteen  were  sent  out.  From  Watertown  and 
vicinity  ("  vicinity  "  means  a  large  area),  five;  from  Lowell, 
three  ;  arid  from  Windsor  Prairie  five  joined  the  itinerant 
ranks. 

Manitowoc  and  Oshkosh  were  visited  in  1850,  and 
church  edifices  followed  as  speedily  as  could  be  expected. 
The  one  at  Oshkosh  was  destroyed  by  the  great  fire  there 
in  1875,  but  was  speedily  rebuilt. 

"  At  Columbus  German  Methodism  has  long  been  a 
power  for  good."  The  charge  has  furnished  four  ministers 
for  the  work. 

Early  in  the  fifties  a  Macedonian  cry  came  to  Water- 
town  from  Wausau  which  was  promptly  heeded  by  Rev. 
Pfaeffle,  the  pastor  there.  He  went  on  a  "  missionary 
tour,"  and  at  the  ensuing  Conference  was  appointed  to  that 
then  distant  and  destitute  region.  Sixty  joined  the  Church 
during  the  year. 

By  similar  process  the  work  spread  throughout  the 
State. 

38 


458  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

A  short  account  of  the  districts,  and  a  summary  of  the 
present  condition  of  the  work  will  close  this  sketch. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  L.  S.  Jacoby,  presiding 
elder  of  Quincy  District,  in  Illinois,  was  the  first  presiding 
elder  who  visited  Milwaukee.  In  1847  a  Wisconsin  Dis- 
trict was  formed,  and  Conrad  Eisemeier  was  appointed  in 
charge.  It,  however,  took  in  the  northeastern  part  of 
Illinois,  extending  from  Pekin  in  that  State  to  Sheboygan 
in  Wisconsin.  He  was  succeeded  by  G.  L.  Mulfinger  in 
1851,  at  the  conclusion  of  whose  term  in  1853  it  was  divided, 
the  appointments  in  Illinois  being  formed  into  a  district 
called  Chicago,  and  those  in  our  State  into  one  still  called 
Wisconsin,  John  Plank  being  put  in  charge  of  the  latter. 
He  was  succeeded  by  those  whose  names  follow,  who  served 
the  terms  indicated  by  the  figures;  F.  Schuler,  1858-1860  ; 
P.  Himers,  1860-3;  F.  Kopp,  1863-7;  C.  A.  Loeber, 
1867-8 ;  J.  J.  Keller,  1868-1870. 

At  the  latter  date  the  district  was  divided — one  part 
being  called  Milwaukee,  the  other  Fond  du  Lac.  The 
incumbents  of  Milwaukee  District  were  J.  J.  Keller,  C. 
Schuler,  G.  L.  Mulfinger,*  C.  A.  Loeber,  John  Schnell, 
and  C.  Swert,  the  present  incumbent.  To  the  Fond  du  Lac 
District  the  following  were  the  appointees :  Geo.  Haas 
(who,  after  serving  faithfully  for  two  years  was  called  to 
his  inheritance  above),  Richard  Frickenseker,  C.  Schuler, 
J.  Bletsch,  B.  Lampert,  H.  Wegner,  and  S.  F.  Fritz,  who 
is  still  doing  good  work  there. 

These  districts  are  a  part  of  the  Chicago  German  Con- 
ference, and  are  in  the  eastern  part  of  Wisconsin. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  State  are  seven  pastoral 
charges  connected  with  the  Northern  German  Conference. 
According  to  their  last  report  they  have  in  Wisconsin  38 


*This  eminent  and  useful  minister  passed  to  his  reward 
in  July,  1886,  having  fought  a  good  fight  and  kept  the  faith 
for  many  years. 


THE  GERMAN  WORK.  459 

ministers  in  active  service;  4,743  full  members;  672  pro- 
bationers ;  37  local  preachers ;  95  church  edifices  valued 
at  $179,000;  43  parsonages  valued  at  $50,000;  105 
Sabbath-schools;  1,070  ofiicers  and  teachers;  and  4,626 
scholars. 


460  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 


METHODISM    AMONG    THE   SCANDINAVI- 
ANS IN  WISCONSIN. 

SCANDINAVIA  is  understood  to  embrace  Sweden,  Nor- 
way, and  Denmark.  But  as  two  distinct  languages 
are  spoken  in  these  nations,  our  w^ork  among  their  people 
is  in  two  departments. 

So  far  as  is  known  to  the  writer  we  have  but  one 
Church  among  the  Swedes  in  Wisconsin.  It  is  in  Mari- 
nette, where  there  is  a  large  number  of  this  nationality. 
They  have  both  a  church  edifice  and  parsonage,  and  seem 
to  be  doing  a  good  work. 

The  work  among  the  Norwegians  and  Danes  has  already 
been  sketched,  with  the  promise  of  something  farther. 
The  following  from  Rev.  A.  Haagensen,  long  a  presiding 
elder  among  them,  contains  a  condensed  account  of  it 
which  will  be  appreciated : 

"EvANSTON,  III.,  August  2,  1889. 
"  Kev.  p.  S.  Bennett  : 

"  Dear  Brother, — Your  letter  of  June  4th  has  been  duly  re- 
ceived, and  I  have  taken  care  to  answer  the  points  regarding 
our  work  which  you  wish  to  know,  and  send  you  the  following 
facts : 

"  1.  The  so-called  Scandinavian  District,  consisting  of  Nor- 
wegians, Danes,  and  Swedes,  was  disbanded  in  1858. 

"2.  In  the  fall  of  1864  the  Norwegian  and  Danish  work  in 
"West  Wisconsin  and  Wisconsin  Conferences  was  organized  into 
a  Norwegian  District,  with  0.  P.  Peterson  as  presiding  elder, 
and  the  district  belonged  to  West  Wisconsin  Conference  until 
1869,  when  I  w^as  appointed  presiding  elder,  and  the  whole 
work  was  transferred  to  Wisconsin  Conference. 

"  3.  The  Norwegian  and  Danish  work  in  Minnesota  and 


AMONG  THE  SCANDINAVIANS.  461 

Iowa  came  under  the  supervision  of  the  Swedes,  but  was  later 
a  part  of  the  work  brought  under  Norwegian  supervision  again. 

"  4.  Inclosed  I  send  you  a  table  of  charges. 

"  5.  In  1870  a  monthly  paper  called  Missionaren  was  started  ; 
it  did  much  good,  and  continued  until  1877,  when  we  started 
a  weekly  paper.  The  name  is  Den  Christelige  Talsmand.  I  was 
for  several  years  assistant  editor  of  Missionaren,  and  four  years 
editor  of  Talsmand. 

"  6.  We  have  also  a  theological  school  for  young  men  called 
to  the  ministry  among  Danes  and  Norwegians.  The  school  is 
located  at  Evanston,  Illinois,  and  cost  $10,000,  and  stands  in 
connection  with  Garrett  Biblical  Institute. 

"  7.  Since  we  organized  as  an  Annual  Conference  our  work 
has  grown  rapidly  among  us.  It  includes  six  States;  viz.,  Illi- 
nois, Iowa,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  and  Dakota. 

"  8.  Our  Conference  has  3,800  members,  with  probationers ; 
65  churches,  29  parsonages,  valued  at  $175,000. 

"  9.  Besides  the  Conference,  we  have  work  in  Oregon,  Wash- 
ington, and  Idaho,  which  was  organized  as  a  mission  last  Gen- 
eral Conference.  They  have  three  hundred  members,  and 
four  or  five  churches. 

"  10.  Several  of  our  ministers  have  been  sent  to  Utah,  where 
we  have  several  churches  and  many  members. 

**  The  result  of  the  small  beginning  among  us  has  been  that 
we  have  grown  to  be  thousands.  Thank  the  Lord !  To  him 
be  the  glory  and  honor  forever !  I  hope  that  these  few  facts 
will  be  of  some  value  in  your  forthcoming  history. 

"  Yours,  fraternallly,  A.  Haagensen. 

"  P.  S. — In  respect  to  the  difference  between  Norwegians 
and  Swedes  I  will  only  state  that,  although  Norway  and  Swe- 
den are  under  one  king,  they  are  two  different  nations,  and 
have  different  languages.  The  Swedish  king  has  had  a  certain 
supervision  over  Norway  since  1817.  Before  that  time  Norway 
was  under  Denmark  for  four  hundred  years.  The  Danes  have 
the  same  language  as  the  Norwegians,  and  therefore  the  Danish 
and  Norwegian  work  is  organized  into  one  Conference.  The 
Swedes  have  confused  the  Church  in  this  matter,  and  call  the 
work  of  all  the  Scandinavian  work ;  whereas  there  is  no  such 
work,  and  can  be  no  such  work.  This  confusion  has  caused 
the  Church  much  trouble.  The  Swedes  have  their  own  Con- 
ference and  missions.  In  the  beginning  of  our  missionary 
work  we  had  great  trouble  with  this  mixing  of  the  three  na- 


462  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

tionalities,  and  I  do  not  think  the  Church  is  clear  on  this  sub- 
ject yet.  A.  H." 

The  above  shows  wonderful  progress.  True,  in  num- 
bers, the  German  work  far  exceeds  this;  but  it  should  be 
remembered  that  the  Norwegians  and  Danes  are  few  in 
this  region  compared  with  the  Germans.  Besides,  the 
work  began  among  the  latter  several  years  before  the  for- 
mer were  reached. 

Two  slight  omissions  should  be  supplied  in  the  foregoing 
letter.  One  is  that  when  the  ''Scandinavian  District" 
was  disbanded  in  1858,  the  appointments  were  not,  but 
were  mingled  in  the  general  work.  The  other  is  that 
in  1880  all  the  Churches  among  the  Norwegians  and 
Danes,  between  the  Alleghany  and  Rocky  Mountains, 
were  organized  into  an  Annual  Conference.  Of  this  Con- 
ference there  is  but  one  district  in  Wisconsin.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  statistical  summary  of  it : 

Number  of  church  edifices, 26 

Number  of  parsonages, 9 

Estimate  value, $54,700 

Traveling  preachers, 15 

Local  preachers, 13 

Lay  members, 1,136 

Sunday-schools, 25 

Scholars, 1,002* 


*  This  sketch  does  not  give  a  complete  view  of  the  general 
work  among  the  Norwegians  and  Danes,  developed  from  the 
small  beginning  in  1850.  In  previous  pages  the  reader  will 
see  some  account  of  missionaries  sent  to  those  people  in  their 
Fatherland.  There  we  have  an  Annual  Conference  within 
which  are  6,586  communicants,  one  theological  school,  and  sev- 
eral of  lower  grade.  This  account  is  entirely  independent  of 
the  Swedish  work. 


FREE  METHODIST  CHURCH.  463 


FREE    METHODIST    CHURCH. 

THIS  branch  of  the  Methodist  family  was  organized  in 
Western  New  York,  August  23,  1860. 

For  several  years  there  had  been  in  that  region  a 
growing  interest  in  the  subject  of  Christian  holiness.  Per- 
haps there  were  some  extravagances  of  expression  and 
methods  in  efforts  to  promote  its  experience.  Opposition 
to  these  was  construed  by  some  as  opposition  to  the  doc- 
trine itself  of  Christian  perfection  as  it  came  down  from 
Mr.  Wesley.  Whatever  was  true  or  false  in  regard  to 
that  matter,  there  was  a  considerable  secession  of  minis- 
ters and  members  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
who  formed  what  has  since  been  known  as  the  Free  Meth- 
odist Church. 

There  were  some  in  Wisconsin  that  sympathized  with 
the  movement  from  its  inception';  and  in  1863  or  1864  a 
Free  Methodist  class  was  formed  at  Sugar  Creek,  Wal- 
worth County.  The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in 
Whitewater  about  1868. 

Geo.  H.  Fox,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  Wiscon- 
sin Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  joined 
this  new  organization,  and  was  one  of  its  active  supporters 
till  his  death,  which  occurred  a  few  years  after. 

They  have  an  Annual  Conference  in  this  State  called 
' '  The  Wisconsin  Conference  of  the  Free  Methodist 
Church."  This  contains  twenty-six  preachers  in  full  con- 
nection and  six  on  trial.  They  have  17  church  edifices 
valued  at  $16,150,  and  one  parsonage  valued  at  $1,000. 
Their  last  report  (1889)  also  shows  27  pastoral  charges, 
722  communicants,  and  23  Sunday-schools  with  756  scholars. 


464  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN. 

They  have  also  a  seminary  at  Evansville,  commenced 
in  1885,  which  has  been  a  success,  so  far,  and  still 
promises  well.  It  has  had  an  average  annual  attend- 
ance of  about  ninety  students,  and  has  graduated  forty- 
eight.  '*  A  neat  building  was  erected  two  years  ago  at  a 
cost  of  about  six  or  seven  thousand  dollars." 


AMERICAN  WESLEYAN  CHURCH.  465 


AMERICAN  WESLEYAN  CHURCH. 

ABOUT  the  year  1828  the  great  anti-slavery  agitation 
began  in  this  country.  Soon  the  eyes  of  many  in  the 
North  were  opened  to  the  prevalence,  enormity,  and  cor- 
rupting influence  of  slavery,  both  in  the  Nation  and  in  the 
Christian  Church;  for  alas!  the  latter  was  feeling  its 
deadly  influence.  Many  of  our  ministers  and  members 
were  thoroughly  aroused,  and  earnestly  sought  its  extirpa- 
tion from  the  Church  of  their  choice.  At  length,  weary 
of  the  slow  progress  in  this  direction,  a  considerable  num- 
ber seceded  in  1843,  and  called  a  convention  in  the  city  of 
Utica,  New  York,  at  which  an  organization  was  effected 
bearing  the  name  at  the  head  of  this  sketch. 

The  writer  has  not  been  able  to  learn  when,  where,  or 
by  whom  this  form  of  Methodism  was  introduced  into  \Vis- 
consin. 

They  report  in  the  State  20  ministers,  11  church  edi- 
fices, valued  at  $10,650;  2  parsonages,  valued  at  $1,100; 
500  communicants,  9  Sabbath-schools,  and  400  scholars. 

There  are,  or  have  been,  two  other  branches  of  the 
Methodist  family  represented  to  a  limited  extent  in  Wis- 
consin, but  a  diligent  search  has  failed  to  find  an  existing 
organization  of  either. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  not  one  of  the  various 
secessions  from  either  the  Wesleyaus  of  England,  or  from 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  has  been  based  on  a 
divergence  of  doctrine.  In  this  they  are  all  agreed  ;  and 
they  rejoice  together  to  see  the  Protestant  world  steadily 
approaching  their  distinctive  views. 

39 


466  METHODISM  IN  WISCONSIN, 


RECAPITULATION. 

THE    total   number   of   communicants   in  the    various 

branches  of  Methodism  in  Wisconsin,  so  far  as  ascer- 
tained, is  53,780,  of  which  446  are  ministers. 

Total  Sunday-school  scholars,     ....  57,497 

Total  church  edifices, 808 

Total  parsonages, 349 

Total  valuation  of  these, $2,473,330 

Now,  while  these  thousands  are  devoutly  singing, 
"Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow,"  may  they 
labor  on,  with  increasing  success,  till  called  to  the  "  rest 
that  remains  to  the  people  of  God  !" 


APPKNDICES 

PARTS  I  AND  II  OF  THIS  VOLUME. 


Appendix  A. 


THIS  table  shows  the  number  of  members,  probationers,  and 
local  pn  achers  connected  with  the  Church  at  the  close 
of  each  year,  as  reported  to  the  Conference.  Also  the  number 
of  preachers  connected  with  the  Conference,  and  their  relations 
thereto,  together  with  the  number  of  pastoral  charges  and  the 
places  "  to  be  supplied,"  thus  giving  a  bird's-eye  view  of  the 
field  and  the  entire  force,  lay  and  ministerial,  with  which  each 
Conference  year  begins. 

Technical  Terms   Explained. 

Effective — One  who  is  considered  able  to  perform  full  woik, 
and  receives  an  appointment  thereto. 

Supernumerari/ — One  partially  disabled. 

Superannn  a  ted— One  supposed  to  h?',  frr  the  present,  en- 
tirely disabled. 

Local  Preachers— Versons  licensed  to  preach,  but  not  mem- 
bers of  any  Annual  Conference.  They  usually  pursue  secular 
affairs,  and  give  themselves  wholly  to  the  ministry  only  when 
employed  by  presiding  elders  to  fill  vacancies. 

Places  to  be  supplied — Vacancies  that  can  not  be  filled  by 
members  of  the  Conference. 

N.  B. — Previous  to  1847,  only  totals  were  repoited.  Then, 
and  thereafter,  members  in  full  connection,  probationers,  and 
local  preachers  were  reported  separately. 

MEMBERS,  PROBATIONERS,  AND  LOCAL  PREACHERS 


g 

^ 

1- 

mK 

^GC 

^x 

-c-H 

^-; 

— 

Yeak. 

2 

P 

2 

S  p 

« 
7 

If 

ft  z 

3  = 

3| 
If 

1*1 

n 

si 

Is- 

4 

:    SL 

84 

2 

:    « 

1835     .    . 

80 

1836,    .    . 

281 

11 

■ 

293 

7 

. 

1837,    .    . 

478 

1*1 

493 

11 

1 

1838,    .    . 

564 

T? 

576 

11 

2 

1839,    .    . 

722 

12 

734 

12 

3 

468 


APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  11. 


'(-;; 

^ 

^ 

„ 

cc 

'T. 

^ 

^ 

^ 

Year. 

5 

c  T 

11 

1? 

i  2 

rt 

II 

11 

rt 

o 

n   -. 

o  S 

ox-  — 

^ 

ri 

5 

F 

fi 

ll 

1^2 

:  a." 

982 

17 

1^ 
i  % 

1840,  .  . 

965 

17 

5 

1841 

1,561 
2,327 
3.605 

28 

1 ,589 
2  362 

22 

o 

1842| 

35 

27 

J 

1843i 

38 

3',643 

30 

3 

1844, 

4,205 
4,153 
4,920 
5,506 
5,329 

39 

4,244 

4,198 
4,970 
5,573 
7,018 

33 

1 

1845,' 

45 

36 

2 

1846, 

.      .      . 

50 

48 

4 

1847 

63 

\ 

3 

57 

9 

1848! 

'  1,466 

147 

70 

4 

57 

7 

1849, 

5,774 

1,291 

152 

75 

,  , 

5 

7,295 

67 

"7 

1850, 

6,370 

1.796 

187 

76 

5 

8,434 

80 

13 

1851, 

7,767 

2,285 

207 

100 

5 

10,364 

88 

11 

1852, 

8,487 

1,973 

192 

98 

6 

10,756 

98 

22 

1853, 

9,202 

2,044 

227 

114 

1 

5 

11,593 

112 

.27 

1854, 

10,693 

.  2,216 

242 

147 

3 

s 

13,309 

132 

27 

1855, 

11,999 

2,371 

297 

175 

.  . 

13 

14,855 

176 

36 

1856, 

6,690 

1,366 

158 

105 

11 

8,330 

109 

13 

1857, 

7,636 

1,649 

162 

109 

6 

9,562 

118 

18 

1858, 

7,823 

3,022 

161 

123 

7 

2 

11.138 

122 

15 

1859,- 

9,089 

3,008 

160 

131 

3 

6 

12,397 

130 

13 

]859,t 

9,242 

1,962 

158 

130 

3 

10 

11,505 

120 

4 

1860, 

9,784 

1,733 

161 

130 

15 

11,823 

126 

8 

1861, 

9,641 

1,337 

175 

126 

9 

11,288 

124 

9 

1862, 

9,769 

1,328 

172 

119 

13 

11,3S1 

118 

6 

1863, 

10,203 

1,593 

173 

125 

17 

12,111 

121 

10 

1864, 

9,525 

1,274 

171 

120 

7 

17 

11,114 

113 

11 

1865, 

10180 

1,496 

156 

112 

10 

17 

11,668 

115 

16 

1866, 

10,203 

1,624 

153 

118 

11 

21 

12,130 

115 

11 

1867, 

10,712 

1,621 

150 

124 

12 

16 

12,635 

121 

17 

1868, 

11,201 

1,507 

144 

129 

29 

13,010 

127 

15 

1869, 

11,952 

1,424 

148 

138 

7 

31 

13,700 

135 

10 

1870, 

12,248 

1,640 

144 

150 

7 

30 

14,219 

138 

7 

1871, 

13,i24 

1,912 

157 

150 

5 

33 

15,381 

141 

10 

1872, 

13  525 

1,824 

168 

137 

11 

26 

15,681 

142 

17 

1873, 

i   13,552 

1,756 

148 

148 

3 

29 

15,638 

140 

17 

1874, 

13,642 

1,560 

125 

155 

5 

28 

15,415 

145 

16 

1875, 

13,961 

1,371 

134 

157 

7 

32 

15,662 

148 

15 

1876, 

13,949 

1,203 

122 

162 

11 

30 

15,497 

146 

10 

1877, 

'   14,106 

1,718 

123 

147 

9 

32 

16,136 

147 

14 

1878, 

1   13,974 

1 ,403 

122 

1()1 

15 

30 

'   15,705 

151 

12 

=:=  1859 -This  year 
Skssio>',  April  2Utli. 

t  Second  Session,  October  13th 


two  sessious  of  the  Conference  were  held.     P'irst 


NUMBER  OF  MEMBERS,  ETC. 


469 


1 

il 

it 

n 

II 

Total 
istei 

ET  ^ 

f.-^ 

YKAK. 

X 

i  ' 

s" 

3"<' 

2.3 

B--^ 

.4  3 

\ 

3 

.^  ' 

i  "^ 

PI 

1879,  .  . 

!   14,109 

1,075 

108 

158 

17 

29 

15,396 

154 

9 

1880, 

12,45(i 

938 

92 

124 

16 

29 

13,655 

132 

9 

188L, 

12,240 

964 

84 

13-1 

14 

32 

13,468 

140 

10 

1882, 

12,829 

1,044 

92 

124 

28 

33 

13,645 

139 

22 

1888, 

12,015 

1,038 

92 

184 

24 

35 

13,328 

140 

19 

1884, 

12,755 

1,118 

87 

149 

22 

35 

14,166 

137 

9 

1885, 

18,082 

1,109 

88 

157 

22 

38 

14,446 

132 

20 

1886, 

1   18,36o 

1,324 

79 

137 

25 

41 

14,971 

135 

14 

1887, 

i   18,904 

1,561 

86 

140 

22 

38 

15,756 

144 

19 

1888, 

1   14,316 

1,432 

85 

140 

19 

36 

16,028 

147 

21 

1889, 

14,974 

1,885 

84 

134 

19 

35 

17,111 

14^ 

17 

N.  B. — Deaths  from  the  laity  were  not  reported  till  after 
1856.  After  that  date,  as  follows: 


1857, 

68 

1858, 

, 

58 

1859, 

. 

77 

1860, 

110 

18(il, 

100 

1862, 

127 

1863, 

177 

1864, 

168 

1865, 

113 

1866, 

110 

1867, 

141 

1868, 119 

1869, 142 

1870, 155 

1871, 147 

1872, 209 

1873, 154 

1874, 152 

1875, 150 

1876, 152 

1877, 180 

1878, 168 


1879, 188 

1880, 182 

1881,  .  .  .  .185 

1882, 198 

1883, 194 

1884, 223 

1885, 201 

1886, 171 

1887, 230 

1888, 231 

1889, 2c6 


470 


APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  IL 


Appendix  B. 

BENEVOLENT  COLLECTIONS. 

REPORTED     AT     KACH     CONFKRENCK     SESSION. 


Y  KAR. 


1848, 

1849, 

1850, 

1851, 

1852, 

1853, 

1854, 

1855, 

1856, 

1857, 

1858, 

1859, 

1860, 

1861, 

1862, 

1863, 

1864, 

1865, 

1866, 

1867, 

1868,t 

1869, 

1870, 

1871, 

1872, 


$517 
527 
935 
1,119 
1,201 
1,841 
2,413 
2,775 
1 1,454 
1,575 
1,228 
1,260 
1,497 
4,130 
3,712 
6267 
6,247 
7,069 
7,465 
7,800 
7542 
8,213 
6,779 
6,858 
6,734 


j-.^ 
5  S 


$92 
89 
91 
139 
180 
368 
359 
492 
295 
334 
256 
191 
332 
241 
311 
430 
477 
509 
619 
939 
731 
1,005 
907 
1,019 
1 ,251 


')C-  o'  c' 


$119 
337 
328 
220 
194 
225 
59 


358 

169 

364 

172 

555 

374 

532 

1,113 

1,179 

1,795 

2,324 

2,312 

2,004 

1,766 

1,805 


20 

13 

12 

59 

92 

132 

231 

218 

197 

231 

210 

241 

180 

235 

198 


$43 

58 

78 

84 

158 

157 

546 

80 
40 
118 
106 
91 
172 
260 
273 
334 
348 
282 
312 
299 
316 
284 


$5i8 
642 
599 
564 
582 


$262 
182 


197 


$316 
358 


='Thisyear  the  f.iUing  off  in  collections  Is  due  to  the  division  of 
the  Conference. 

t  About  this  time  otlier  collections  for  benevolent  purposes  were 
added,  as  noted  in  appropriate  columns. 


BENE  VOLES T  COLLECTIONS. 


471 


Other  Collections 


CO  O  Ci 
c^  :c  a; 

i-i  cc  00 


CC  OC'  O  "*  O  1^  O  lO  — I  Cl 

^"  ,-r  c-f  (>f  (>i  c-f  cc  '^j'"  Qc"  cc 


Education  ... 


I-  c:  r-  ;ciC  Ci  i-H  o 

-^  L.O  CO  '  ~        "  " 

->C  XI  C^.  O^  t^^  Lt^^  C-  J^ 


Freeduien's  Aid. 


CO  :C  cc  —  t^  O  CO  0^1  X>  Tt^  rt<  Tf  O  00  OC  CO  c: 

lO  CO  lO  'f  -r  -f  ic  lO  o  cc  CD  CO  Oi  o  CO  o^  ca 


hurch 
Extension 


T— iocoiO'*-TO:'-Hi^i 

•-<  O  iC  —  01  Ol  i-O  OC  05  i 

;C  uo  -+  -f  't  -t  :o  CO  w  c 


Oi  CO  '^  01  (M  1^  r-^ 

X-  rr  lO  c:  CO  lO  CO  c: 
o  ic^oc  i^  QC  cr.  X  <-; 


Pi 

CD  0/ 

Crt  o 

®  00    QD 

ceo  a; 


C.2 


Sunday-school 
Union 


Tract  Society 


American  Bible 
Society 


L'onlereuce 
Claimants. 


COOOCCOIt^iOOli— il^OOr- lODOOC^^i— 'CO 
COTf^OSOOl^COC^Ol^OOCOt^OlOi— >T-^ 

OJC^JOIt—   r-r^^r--(Mr-lT-if—   ^.-l-M-MCO 


■rr  CO  O  i— t  iC  iC  lo  cn:  O  '^  00  05  -^  T  CO  oi  C: 
COi— iOr^iO»CT(MiOiCO^COt^XC:^ 
(Mf—  C^)^^  —   .—  '—  1—  i-Hr-li-lr-ii-^r-..  r-^(M 


CO  oi  i^  ?)  oi  CO  -f  X  o  r--  CD  t^  "*  t^  I— '  lO  o 

l^a:i— It- iCCOwOOXOiOCOi— iCOCO 

T-Hior^i^TjH      o-i.-ir-ir-iT-icococococO'* 


O  c:.  '^  r-i-oo— •C^-^iOOir-^'— iC:iOcoX 
CO  —  COr-iOlCOOliCO^OCCT-^^;^-^! 

CO  o  -— I  c:  Oi  X  CO  oi  oj_co^rr_i^^o_t>;  x^t^^c: 

_r  ^  -T  — "  ^"  r-T  --T  — '  r-T  C^f  ^'  r-T  r-T  ^ 


Total  for 
Missions.... 


Woman's 
Foreign 
I  1       Missionary 
^  i       Society 


cr.  CO  CO  i^  X  CO  Tf  X  CO  ^  "*  ic  -^  CO  i^  CO  X 
coojcO'+r-HOX'-iiOOJO— 'C:Cic:t^x 
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-I  _ 
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xoi— t  co-i-c;;'^o"jxcococoi>-T-(iox 

oi  CO  o:'  •  cc  OJ  oi  X  c:  O  c:  Ti-  X  2;  1-1  r-t  t;- 

^COt^  .C-lClC:0:01C0TriX<M  O^t-^^^CO^iC 

c<,"  r-,-                  r-Tr-T'Tf  oiof<^f<^foi" 


Parent 
Society 


^  !M  lO  i^  »0)  05  o  '^f  •—  coxo:xc:coi-ocp 

rt  cc  -rt>  rf  ic  I-  iC  rt  -O  Ol  O  :C  CO  X  ^  10  $1 

X  X  ri  o  X  cr.  CO  CO  1^  ^„^  ^'^^'^^'■""^"^^'^'^r 

CD  i-0";c"i0  lO -T^iC  •*'  -t'"iC~»o'~»^0  CO  CO  l>>  i^  t^ 


§.5 

""  .^  5 

^cO«:' 
53 

.^  X  2 

fl  rl    ai 

o      •>, 

§o| 

00    ^'^ 

i-<  -M 
2  ^  fl 

S    S    <D 

^^    ^ 

SIC   i, 
_  X   o 

^X  -^ 


'y^  Tti'iT  CO  1^  X  cc  O  •— '  Ot  CO  '^  lO  ;0  l^  X  O: 
re  l^  t^  |X  U  t-i  ?-  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X 

X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X  X 


472 


APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  IT. 


Appendix  C. 

This  table  shows  the  number  of  Church  edifices  and  par- 
sonages each  year,  and  their  valuation,  as  reported  to  the  en- 
suing Conference.  Also,  the  number  of  Sabbath-scbools,  offi- 
cers, and  scholars.  The  earliest  accessible  reports  of  these  were 
made  in  1850,  and  no  report  of  the  valuation  of  Church  prop- 
erty is  found  until  1859. 


^ 

-> 

^ 

< 

2 

o 

r» 

^ 

?=" 

p_ 

2 

5P  = 

^B 

2 

Year. 

II 

1 

3 
J? 

P 

31 

3' 
.  .  .  . 

If 

h  2 

P 

< 

1850,   .  .  . 

36 

144 

1,132 

4,826 

183 

1851, 

48 

34 

205 

1,638 

8,409 

270 

1852, 

60 

42 

.  . 

241 

1,903 

9,273 

221 

1853, 

70 

43 

243 

"2,009 

9,396 

273 

1854, 

71 

. 

41 

259 

1,989 

10,130 

276 

1855, 

92 

54 

280 

2,252 

9,791 

172 

1856, 

61 

.  . 

63 

167 

1,358 

6,403 

81 

1857, 

No 

report. 

225 

2,090 

10,040 

167 

1858, 

No 

report. 

150 

1,303 

6,407 

294 

1859, 

87 

$186,500 

'58 

$30,200 

196 

1,827 

8,774 

187 

1860, 

96 

185,600 

65 

33,100 

239 

2,353 

11,468 

1861, 

100 

191,920 

70 

35,575 

232 

2,142 

10,853 

1862, 

98 

187,150 

69 

33,675 

246 

2,274 

12,407 

.  . 

1863, 

114 

220,000 

75 

37,250 

230 

2,169 

12,158 

496 

1864, 

102 

228  450 

75 

52,300 

217 

2,141 

12,378 

246 

1865, 

107 

254,950 

77 

50,500 

227 

2,280 

12,921 

1866, 

117 

328,(500 

84 

64,525 

217 

2,323 

12.814 

.  . 

1867, 

132 

420,050 

89 

80,300 

169 

1,926 

12,244 

421 

1868, 

141 

484,550 

87 

91,515 

211 

2,291 

13,979 

381 

1869, 

149 

520,695 

92 

96,425 

224 

2,419 

14,838 

276 

1870, 

163 

717,400 

95 

105,250 

278 

1,951 

16,250 

87 

1871, 

172 

734,350 

97 

108,780 

200 

2,704 

17,233 

23S 

1872, 

182 

747,785 

103 

115,930 

239 

2,513 

16,919 

731 

1873, 

191 

782,600 

106 

162,252 

210 

2,643 

16,564 

1874, 

194 

807,950 

99 

119,677 

228 

2,476 

16,350 

1875, 

199 

845,650 

99 

122,600 

244 

2,469 

16,818 

44f; 

1876,  . 

204 

826,700 

105 

123,870 

223 

2,257 

15,78! 

1877, 

201 

792,500 

105 

121,450 

232 

2,332 

15.966 

.  . 

1878, 

204 

769,650 

106 

113,900 

234 

2,464 

16,029 

.  . 

1879,  . 

212 

738,250 

110 

114,795 

248 

2,427 

16,252 

1880, 

199 

703,850 

106 

110,870 

221 

2,204 

14,252 

1881, 

190 

6S 

2,400 

109 

11 

3.300 

216 

2,193 

14,705 

CEllRCHES  AND  PARSONAGES— PREACHERS.  478 


^2 

-; 

-:?      ^    f  X? 

o 

X 

r- 

Year. 

1 

5 

i 

1 

2 

II 

•  S- 

1! 

5 

2 

1882,  .  .  . 

195 

$708,650 

Ill 

$122,750  219 

2,262 

15,293 

188:^, 

197 

726,555 

111 

124,450 

224 

2,292 

15  209 

1884, 

216 

780,000 

118,  129.050 

231 

2,419 

16,736 

1885, 

214 

793,700 

113i  133,125 

230 

2,401 

16,517 

1886, 

213 

784,825 

114i  140,975 

222 

2,456 

16,138 

1887, 

214 

798,800 

1181  148,975 

239 

2,689 

18,550 

1888, 

215 

831,900 

117  149,300 

235 

2,617 

18,821 

1889, 

218 

856,050 

1221  173,750 

239 

2,711 

19,639 

Appendix  D. 


NAMES  OF  PREACHERS  FIRST  AND  LAST  APPEARING 
IN  OUR  CONFERENCE  MINUTES. 

Tiie  left-hand  column  shows  when  the  relation  commenced  ; 
the  right-hand  column  when  it  ceased.  If  no  date  appears 
at  the  right  of  the  name,  the  one  designated  is  still  connected 
with  the  Conference.  Tiie  letter  I,  opposite  the  name  of  any 
one,  indicates  that  he  located  that  year;  d,  that  he  died; 
t,  that  he  was  transferred  to  some  other  Conference ;  e,  that 
he  was  expelled;  vj,  that  he  withdrew  from  the  Conference 
and  the  Church ;  and  r,  that  he  was  removed  from  our 
territory,  either  by  appointment  elsewhere,  while  we  were 
connected  with  another  Conference,  or  by  Conference  division 
A  date  on  the  right  of  a  name,  not  preced«^d  by  a  letter,  indi 
cates  that  the  person  was  then  discontinued  as  a  probationer 

N.  B. — The  reader  will  note  that  John  Clark  and  Geo 
White  were  sent  to  our  territory  as  missionaries;  the  former 
by  the  New  York  Conference  in  1832,  the  latter  by  the  Oneida 
Conference  in  1834,  without  any  change  in  their  Conference 
relations.  In  1836  they  were  transferred  to  the  Illinois  Con- 
ference at  which  date  their  names  first  appear  in  its  records. 
No  account  is  made  of  the  temporary  absence  of  a  member 
from  Conference  bv  transfer  or  location. 


1828,  John  Dew,  r,    . 

1833,  J.  T.  Mitchell,  r, 

1834,  L.  Bevins,  /.  .    . 
"     H.  Crews,  r,  .    . 

1835,  J.  Hadley,  r,  .    . 


.  1828  I  1835,  A.  Bronson,  r,  .  .  .  1855 
.1841        "     M.  Eobinson. 

.  1834    1836,  R.  Haney,  r,  .    .  .  .  1836 

.  ]'842        "     John  Clark,  r,  .  .  .  1836 

.  1835        "    J.  Crummer,  r,  .  .  .  1846 


474 


APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  If. 


1836 

S.  Pillsbury,  r,  .    . 

1838 

1842,  M.  Decker,    .    .    . 

(( 

Geo.  White,  I,  .    . 

.  1836 

"     S.  H.  Stocking, /,  . 

" 

W.  S.  Crissey,  r,  . 

.  1836 

'      C.  G.  Latbrop,  t,  . 

" 

P.  W.  Nicholas,  I, . 

.  1838 

"     A.  M.  Earley,    .    . 

'• 

D.  Poe,  t,    .    .    .    . 

.  1838 

"     11.  J.  Brace,  .    .    . 

i( 

Colon  D.  James,  r, 

.  1836 

"     R.  J.  Harvey,  /,    . 

" 

J.  W.  Haney,  r,    . 

.  1836 

"     W.  Wilcox,  r,    .    . 

(( 

David  King,  I,  .    . 

.  1843 

"     W.  Vance,  .... 

1837 

H.  W.  Reed,r,  .    . 

.  1841 

"     8.  Stover,  r,    .    .    . 

>( 

0.  F.  Curtiss,  I,  .  . 

.  1839 

"     G.  L.  S.  Stuff,  r,    . 

n 

S.  Stebbins,  r,    .    . 

.  1844 

'•     J.  P.  Galhip, /,  .    . 

•.' 

J.  R.  Goodrich,  r,  . 

.  1843 

"     W.  H.  Sampson. 

" 

H.  W.  Frink. 

1843,  X.  Swift,  /.    .    .    . 

" 

J.  Halstead,  d,  .    . 

.  1888 

"     J.  M.  Snow,  d,  .    . 

" 

T.  W.  Pope. 

"     AsaAVood,  1,  .    .    . 

a 

B.  Weed,  t,    .    .    . 

.  1839 

"     Stephen,  Jones,  H', 

" 

1).  Hotchkiss. 

"     R.  Delap,  /,    .    .    . 

'• 

W.  Simpson,  r,  .    . 

.  1841 

"     J.  Lewis,  (/,... 

" 

J.  W.McMurtry,  ?■. 

.  1837 

"     J.  L.  Bennett,  .    . 

" 

A.  H.  Bonnev,  r. 

.  1837 

"     David  Lewis. 

1838 

T.  C.  Lopas,  V,  .    . 

.  1838 

1844,  S.  W.  Martin,  w,  . 

" 

I.  J.  Stewart,  r,    . 

.  1838 

'•     Wm.  Allen,  Z,  .    . 

u 

W.  Weigley,  e,  .    . 

.  1842 

''     J.  Pennian,  /,    .    . 

n 

J.  F.  Flanders. 

"     G.  N.  Hanson,  d,  . 

(< 

S.  P.  Keyes,  r,  .    . 

.  1842 

"     R.  Beaty,  r,    .    .    . 

11 

J.  Hodges,  r,  .    .    . 

.  1841 

"     C.  D.  Gaboon,  r,  . 

" 

Rollin  Brown. 

"     C.  McClure,  w,  ,   . 

1839 

,  J.  Field,  t,.... 

.  1845 

"     F.  A.  Savage,  r,    . 

a 

A.  Chenoeth,  r,    .  . 

.  1842 

1845,  H. Summers, f,  .    . 

" 

J.  McKean,  r,   .    . 

.  1842 

"     N.  P.  Heath,  r,  .    . 

u 

J.  G.  Whitford. 

"     M.  Dinsdale,  r,  .  . 

1840 

,  Jas.  Ash,  d,    .    .    . 

.  1848 

"     H.  J.  Humphries,r 

" 

L.  F.  MouUhrof).  t/. 

.  1876 

"     S.  W.  Ford. 

" 

H.  Whitehead,  r,  . 

.  1844 

"     J.  W.  Burtun,  e,    . 

(( 

D.  Worthington,  /•, 

.  1841 

'•     E.  Springer,  d,  .    . 

(1 

Sidney  Wood,  r,   . 

.  1841 

"     T.  P.  Bingham,    . 

1841 

,  E.  P.  Wood,  r,  .    . 

.  1841 

''    M.  S.  Noble,  .    .    . 

i< 

J.  Hurl  burr,  /,  .    . 

.  1847 

"     W.  G.  Miller,  t,    . 

" 

C.  N.  Wagnr,  r,     . 

.  1845 

"     S.  B.Whipple,  r,  . 

•' 

T.  M.  Fulierton,  /•, 

.  1848 

"     W.  Oliver,  I,  .    .    . 

'< 

A.  Warren,  /,    .    . 

.  1847 

"     J.  M.  Walker,  d,  . 

«' 

B.T.  Kavanaugh,  r. 

.1844 

"     J.  Willson,  .... 

a 

Geo.  Copway,  I,    . 

.  1843 

"     C.  G.  Adams,    .    . 

•' 

W.  Hewson,  /,  .    . 

.  1841 

^'     T.  AV.  Perkins,  .    . 

li 

S.  P.  Richardson  . 

.  1841 

"     G.  W.  Cotrell,  /,  . 

" 

Silas  Bowles,  r,  .  . 

.  1844 

"     M.  L.  Reed,   .    .    . 

<( 

F.  T.  Mitchell,  r,  . 

.  1843 

1846,  A.  Wooliscroft,  r, 

1842 

,  M.  Bourne,  r,    .    . 

.  1844 

"     D.  Dickinson,    .    . 

(( 

Jas.  Mitchell,  /■,    . 

.  1844 

t'     B.  Close,  <,.... 

" 

J.  G.  Whitcomb,  /, 

.  1846 

"     R.  P.  Lawton. 

(( 

N.  Jewett,  r,  .   .   . 

.  1842 

"     J.  S.  Prtscott,  /,    . 

1850 


NAMES  OF  PREACHERS. 


47i 


1846.  A.B.Randall,  7t',  . 

1869 

1849,  Chas.  Hollis,  .    . 

.  1850 

"     A.  P.  Allen,?,   .    . 

1873 

"     A.  Mcintosh,    . 

.  1851 

"     N.  S.  Green,  t,  .   . 

1860 

"     0.  F.  Comfort,  /, 

.  1856 

"     W.  M.  D.  Ryan,  t, 

1846 

"     Enos  Stevens,  *? 

.  1851 

"     J.  Chandler,  r,  .    . 

1846 

"     P.  S.  Bennett. 

"     J.  C.  Parks,  r,    .    . 

1846 

'*     John  Tibbals,  I, 

.  1857 

•'     J.Leekenby,/',  .    . 

1846 

1850,  E.  Yocum,  t,  .    . 

.  1857 

"     Geo.  Lovesee,  t,    . 

1848 

"    S.  Watts,  /,    .    . 

.  1861 

'•     J.  Bean,  r,  .    .    .    . 

1855 

"     S.  L.  Leonard,  d, 

.  1879 

"     F.  Smith,  t,    .    .    . 

1850 

"     Will.  Britton,  /, 

.  1851 

"     J.  W.  Putuaiij,  t,  . 

1856 

"     H.  Roberts,  /,    . 

.  1852 

1847,  I).  Brooks,  r,  .   .    . 

1855 

"     Jas.  Barnes.   •    . 

.  1851 

"     I.  Searls,  d,     .    .    . 

1871 

"     W.H  Tiiouipson, 

^,.1855 

"     AVm.Tasker, /,  .    . 

1850 

'•     J.  M.S.  Maxson,c/,  .  1859 

'■     R.  E.  Thomas,  <.  . 

1851 

"     J.  B.  Mills,  t,  .  . 

.  1856 

"     R.  R.Wood,  r,  .    . 

1855 

"     R.  Blackburn. 

"     H.  Reqna,  d,  .    .    . 

1864 

"     J.  C.  Dana,  v:,   . 

.  18G1 

"     S.  R.  Thorp,  /, 

1852 

''     J.  Law  son,  r, .   . 

.  1855 

"     8.  M.  Stone,  I,  .    . 

1852 

"     C.  L^wson,  I  .  . 

.  1851 

"     J.  W.  Burton,  e,  . 

1848 

"     C.  P.  Sanford,    . 

.  1851 

"     F.  M.  Mills,  t,    .    . 

1849 

"     AVin.  ShroftW,  . 

.  1877 

"     J.  W.  Wood,  e,  .  . 

1859 

''     0.  E.  Hall,  I,  .    . 

.  1857 

"     H.  V.  Train,  I,  .    . 

1853 

"     C.  G.  Connable,  d,  •  1852 

"     C.  Hobart,  t,  .    .    . 

1855 

"     J.  Marshall,   .    . 

.  1852 

"     W.  Willatd. 

"     L.  M.  Cochran,  /•, 

.  .  1855 

"     A.  Hanson,  /,    .    . 

1852 

1851,  J.  L    Dver,  r,  .  . 

.  1855 

"     J.  Luckock,  t,    .    . 

1850 

"     J.  M.  Wells. 

"     W.  M.O.sborn,r,  . 

1855 

"     W.  Robot  ham,  Is 

t,  .  1851 

"     W.  Lattin. 

"     Thos.  C.  Golden, 

t,  .  1858 

"     G.  Whitman,  d,    . 

1848 

"     D.  0.  Jones,  d,  . 

.  1886 

"     M.  Bennett,  t,   .    . 

1856 

"     G.  W.  Richardson 

r,  1855 

1848,  B.  L.  Thomas,  .    . 

1848 

"     Jo' in  Nolan,  t,  . 

.  1858 

"     E.  Holmes,  /, .   .    . 

1863 

"     R.  Cobban,  t,  .  . 

.  1860 

"     J.  E.  Willsoa,f,    . 

1850 

"     Ttios.  Orbison,  d, 

.   .  1872 

"     A.  C.  Pennock,  /,  . 

1855 

"     R.  Dudgeon,  r,  . 

.  1855 

"     R.  Shane 

1848 

'•     N.  S.  Green,  .   . 

.  1852 

"    Jos.   Williams,  .    . 

1848 

"     W.  Robotham,  2d 

"     L.  Dickens,    .    .    . 

1850 

"     H.  Wood,  r,    .    . 

.  1855 

"     H.  Hersey,  d,    .    . 

1884 

"     E.  Tucker,  /,  .    . 

.  1853 

''     Cornelius  Smith,  I. 

1852 

"     R.  Moffitt,  f,  .    . 

.  1871 

1849,  C.  A.  Newcomb,  /, 

1853 

"     M.  Woodley,  .  . 

.  1853 

"     Dau'l  Stanbury,  d, 

1860 

"     N.  Mayne,  r, .  . 

.  1855 

"     8.  P.  Waldron,  r,  . 

1855 

"     R.  Price,  r,  .    .    . 

.  1855 

"     N.  Butler,  r,  .    .    . 

1855 

"     Geo.  Chester,  d, 

1865 

"     Chas.  Hill.  .    .        . 

1849 

'*     C.  P.  Agrelius,  /, 

.  1858 

"     R.  S.  Hay  ward. 

"     J.  Pearsall,   t,    . 

.  1852 

"     E.  S.  Bunce,  r.  .    . 

1855 

"     R.  Everdell,  /,  . 

.  1852 

"     J.Harrington,  d,  . 

1850 

"     M.  Himebaugh. 

'\  Wm.  Owens,/,  .    . 

1856 

"     A.  H.  Walter,  <, 

.    .  1872 

"     J.  N.  Ward,  .    .    . 

1849 

"     Boyd  Phelps,  t,  . 

.  1854 

476 


APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  IT. 


1851,  A.  Calender,  d, .  . 

1871 

1854,  N.  E.  Cobleigh,i, 

.  1859 

"     8.  L.  Brown,-    .    . 

1863 

"     Henry  Scott,  .    .    . 

.  1854 

"     C.  Willerup,  /,  .    . 

1S7B 

"     A.  G.  Coolev,  /■,   . 

.  1855 

1852,  E.  B.  Riigsell,  /•,    . 

1855 

"     W.  R.  Jones,  t,  .  . 

.  1878 

"     Levi  Fuller,    .    .    . 

1852 

"     H.  Garden,    .    .    . 

.  1856 

"     Wm.  F.  Delap,  r,  . 

1855 

"     0.  B.  KnudsoD,  t, 

.  1861 

''     Wni.  Spell,  IV,    .    . 

1866 

"     Steen  Steenson,  t, 

.  1858 

"     Jabez  Brooks,  r,    . 

1855 

"     Neils  Oleson,  .  .    . 

.  1855 

"     Jas.  W.  Lyman,  I, 

1864 

''     D.  B.  Anderson,   . 

.  1855 

"     R.  Roberts,    .    .    . 

1852 

"     L.  Hallock,  /,  .  .    . 

.  1861 

"     P.  B.  Pease,  (/,  .    . 

1881 

'•     G.  F.  Hilton,  r,     . 

.  1855 

"     Geo.  Fellows,  d,    . 

1887 

"     H.  B.  Crandall,  /. 

.  1870 

"     Wm.  Averill,  /,  .  . 

1 87() 

"     L.  Bell,  r,   .    .    .    . 

.  1855 

"     J.  Anderson. 

"     D.  0.  Vanslyke,  r 

.  1855 

"     J.  H.  Hazeltine,'/, 

1860 

"     S.  Anderson,  /,  .    . 

.  1858 

"     J.  0.  Hudson,  I,    . 

1854 

"     C.  M.  Webster,    . 

.  1855 

"     R.  Delap,  r,    .    .    . 

1855 

"     Jas.  Sims,  r,  .    .    . 

.  1855 

"     S.  C.  Thomas. 

"     H.  Palmer,  r,  .  .    . 

.  1855 

"    Silas  Searls,t  L     . 

1853 

"     R.  Langley,  r,    .    . 

.  1855 

1853,  J.  Padgeham,  .  .    . 

1855 

"     S.  Dodge,  /•,... 

.  1855 

"     F.  Curtiss,  /,  .    .    . 

1866 

"     J.  W.  Waterburv, 

t,  1855 

"     N.  J.  Aplin. 

"     W.  H.  Bunce,  1%  . 

.  1855 

"     Wm.  Sturges,  t,  .  . 

1868 

"     C.  C.  Kidder,  r,    . 

.  1855 

"    T.  0.  Hollister,  d,  . 

1869 

''     Ezra  Tucker,  I,  .   . 

.  1856 

"     .T.  D.  Houghawout,  r 

,  1855 

"     Geo.  H.  Fox,  /,  .  . 

.  1862 

"     A.  M.  Hulse,.  .    . 

1853 

"     A.  H.  Annis,+   .    . 

.  1860 

"     A.  C.  Squire,  I,  .    . 

1864 

"     J.  W.  Donalson,  lu 

.  1858 

"     R.  R.  Hamilton,    . 

1855 

"     J.  B.  Armitage,  t, 

.  1856 

"     Benj.  Crist,  r,    .    . 

1855 

"     J.  D.  Requa,  t,  .    . 

.  1868 

"     C.  Vessey,  .... 

1855 

"     E.  W.  Stevens,  /,  . 

.  1868 

"     H.  J.  Vanschoick,^/ 

,  1853 

'*     Edwin  Buck,  .   .    . 

.  1855 

"     E.  Page,  r,  .    .    .    . 

1855 

"     R.  Gould,  r,    .    .    . 

.  1855 

"     J.  Hooper,  ;•,... 

1855 

"     Samuel  Still,  .    .    . 

.  1854 

"     J.  M.  Shultz,  .    .    . 

18.54 

1855,  W.  McDonald,  /,  . 

.  1857 

"     J.  H.  White, .   .    . 

1855 

"     C.  A.  Weirich,  /•, 

.  1855 

"     John  Ferry,   .    .    . 

1855 

"     A.  Foster,  }/:,  .    .    . 

.  1872 

"     D.  B.  Tracy,  .    .    . 

1853 

'•     R.  Robotham,    .    . 

.  1855 

"     C.  C.  Mason,  .    .    . 

1855 

"     S.  V.R.  Shepherd, 

d,  1881 

"     A.  Griswold,  /,  .    . 

1860 

"     Richard   Mates,  e, 

.  1855 

"     L.  W.  McSchooler, 

1853 

"     Calvin  Kellogg,  r, 

.  1855 

"     E.  Cook,  i 

1860 

"     R.  Fancher,  r,  .    . 

.  1855 

1854,  D.  Hale,  d, .   .    .    . 

1888 

"     N.  Wheeler,  r,  .    . 

.  1855 

"     J.  Howd,  /,    .    .    . 

1872 

"     S.  Salisbury,  t,  .    . 

.  1868 

"     Peter  Lang,    .    .    . 

1855 

*'     Jas.  Cady,  .    .    .    . 

.  1855 

"     D.  Kidder,  .... 

1855 

"     Wm.  Harvey,  r,  . 

.  1855 

=^  Suspended. 

t  Silas  Searls  was  transferred  to  our  Conference  in  1852,  and  served 
the  Church  at  Kenosha,  and  transferred  to  Rock  River  Conference  in 
1853;  but  his  name  never  appeared  in  the  list  of  appoiiilments  except 
as  tratisferred. 

X  Deposed. 


NAMES  OF  PREACHERS. 


477 


1855, 


1856. 


G.  W.  Uelainater,  / 

1870 

1856,0.  B.  Hudson,  f,  . 

.  1861 

T.  T.  Cutclien,  .    . 

1856: 

"     J.  Gushing,  /,     .    . 

.  1859 

L.  Peterson,  /,  .    . 

1858, 

1857,  W.T.  Colburn. 

Wm.  Steveng,  e,  . 

1858 

"     G.  S.  Allen,  c,    .    . 

.  1862 

John  Whitwortli,  r 

,  1855 

"     W.  M.  Anderson,  n 

.  1888 

Jas.  Pe^t,  /•,   .    .    . 

1855 

"     W.  D.  Ames. 

C.  P.  Hackney,  r, 

1855 

"     J.  De  La  Mater,  /,  . 

.  185S 

Petnr  Locv,  r,    .    . 

1855 

"     D.  W.  Couch,  t,    . 

.  1868 

A.  IVlcWright,  r,  . 

1855 

"    T.  White,  d,  .    .    . 

.  1861 

N    S.  Philips,    .    . 

1855 

"     J.  K.Sheldon,  rf,  . 

.  1863 

H.  Hard,    .    .    . 

1855 

"     T.  Ross. 

Alonzi  Angel,  r,  . 

1855 

"     A.  C.  Manwell,  /, 

.  187.S 

A.  J.  N-  Ison,  ?•, ,  . 

1855 

"     R.  C.  Parsons,  rl,  . 

.  1887 

Z.  S.  Hnrd,  r,    .    . 

1855 

"     J.  E.  Baker,  /,  .    . 

.  1868 

Chas.  Baldock. 

"     J.  T.  Suffron. 

Jop.  8.  Bolton,  //,  . 

.  1882 

"     F.  0.  Blair,  /,    . 

1859 

H.  H   Smith.  .  .    . 

.  1855 

"     C.  Ste^nson,  /.   .    . 

.  1863 

M.  Crown  over,  r,  . 

.  1855 

"     A.  Seiderholm,  f,  . 

.  1858 

1..  I)    Iracy,  /,  .    . 

.  1867 

"     C.  Scammon,  v:,   ■ 

.  1869 

J.  Bmlingame,  r,  . 

.  1855 

"     H  C.  Tilton,  d,  .    . 

.  1879 

Joh'i  Murrish,  r,  . 

.  1855 

"     C.  D.  Pillsbury. 

H.  R.  Jones,  .  .    . 

1855 

"     E.  Robinson,  d,  . 

.  1887 

1.  M.  Stag2,  r, 

.  1855 

'     J.  Whitney,  d,  .    . 

.  1883 

0.  P.  Brown,  /,  .  . 

.  1856 

"     N.  Green,  /,   .    .    . 

.  1860 

E.  P.  Beech ^r,'^,  . 

.  1877 

"     C.  C.  Svms,  ^    .    . 

.  1867 

J.  C.  Bobbins. 

1858,  Ole  Hell  and,  .  .    . 

.  1862 

J.  M.  Kirkpatrick,  / 

,1855 

"     A.  Hag-nson,  r, 

.  1879 

K.  Hoover,  .... 

.  1855 

"     J.  Van  Voris,  /,  .  ■ 

.    1K61 

R.  Z.  Mason,  ?/',    • 

.  1867 

'•     J.  W.  Olmstead. 

Jacob  Miller,  /,  .   . 

.  1859 

'•     A.  A.  Horton,  /.  . 

.  1864 

I).  F.  Holcomb,    . 

.  1858 

"     C.  D.  Cook. 

D.  T.  Olcott,  t,  .   . 

.  1887 

'•     L   N.  Wheeler. 

G.  y.  Van  Yleit,  . 

.  1856 

"     W.  P.  Stowe. 

J.  E.  (irant. 

"     .1.  C.  Crawford,    • 

.  1858 

N.  Johnson,   .    .    ■ 

.  1856 

"     A.  D.  Hendricksoi 

1.  1858 

J.  C.   Aspenwall,/, 

.  1858 

"     H.  Sewell. 

Lars  Peterson,  f, 

.  1858 

"     E.  Peterson,  d,  .  . 

.  1863 

J.  J.  Willis,   .    .    . 

.  1856 

"     W.  B.  Holt,    .    .    . 

.  1859 

B.  R.  Harrington, 

.  1857 

"     J.  Oleson,    .... 

.  1859 

R.  C.  HunJ.    .    .    . 

.  1865 

'•     T.  Potter. 

C.  S.  Macr.  ading,  /, 

.1858 

'^     T.  Peep. 

R.  M.  Beach,  t,  .   . 

.  1866 

'•     E.  Palmer 

.  1860 

J.  Reinhart,  •    .    . 

.  1857 

"     J.  I.  Fort. 

C.  J.  Fairbinks. 

"     C.  W.  Keller,   .    . 

.  1858 

AV.  McFarlane. 

"     H.  Bannistt^r.  ^/,    . 

.  1883 

Jas.  Gushing,  I,  .  • 

.1859 

'•     W.  Teal,  t 

.  1887 

G.  W.  Slater,  ?,  .   . 

.  1864 

"     E.  K.  Biishee,  /,   . 

.  1865 

S.  Smith. 

"     A.  Hitchcock,  /,    . 

.  1859 

A.  C.  Eliot,  ^    .    . 

.  1867 

1859,  A.  A.  Reed. 

J.  C.  Spellum,  /,    . 

.  1858 

"     G.  A.  Smith,  /,  .    . 

.  1880 

J.  Tidland,  «,  .    .    . 

.  1858 

"     John  Jones,  I,    •    ■ 

.  1879 

478 


APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  1  AND  II. 


1859, 


1860, 


1861, 


1862, 


1863, 


I.  S.  EldridgH. 

1863 

Thos.  Hughs,   d,  . 

.  1871 

S.  8.  Lang,  I,  .  .    . 

.  1872 

" 

R.  Cooley,  t, .   .    . 

.  1880 

A.  Cross,  /,    .    .    . 

.  1862 

1864 

H.  L.  Chamberlin. 

Chas.  Smith. 

(< 

J.  C.  Hazleton,  /, 

.  1881 

W.  G.  Bancroft. 

u 

D.  C.  Adams,    .    . 

.  1864 

E.  Bassett,  w,    .    . 

.  1867 

<' 

W.  W.  Case,  t,  .  . 

.  1875 

I.  Wiltse,  d,  .    .    . 

.  1878 

" 

C.  E.  Lum,  I,    .    . 

.  1869 

W.  B.  Ferafuson,  / 

.  1862 

" 

A.  M.  Stephens,  t, 

.  1866 

A.  S.  Thompkins, 

/,  1868 

(( 

R.  Henry,  /,  •    •    • 

.  1878 

E.  M.  Chase,  .    .    . 

.  1859 

1865 

Geo.  M.  Steele,  /, 

.  1879 

A.  L.  Cooper,   .    . 

.  1859 

u 

C.  E.  Carpenter. 

J.  B.  Graham,  e,   . 

.  1860 

i( 

Geo.  Pinney,  .  .    . 

.  1867 

Wm.  Morse,  d,  .    . 

..  1888 

n 

Geo.  S.  Hnbbs,  d, 

.  1887 

L.  E.  Eldridge,  /,  . 

.  1863 

(I 

M.  B.  Y.  Bristol. 

R.  A.  Fairbairfi,   . 

.  1859 

1866,  Samuel  Lu^g. 

W.  J.  Olmsttad. 

u 

T.  L.  01m stead,  /, 

.  1867 

I.  L.  Hi  user,  ir,    . 

.  1885 

u 

Moses  Alley,  v,    . 

.  1865 

W.  B.  Rowe,  /,    . 

.  1862 

" 

F.  I.  Bell,  .... 

.  1866 

G.  W.   Anderson, 

/,  1863 

" 

J.  L.  Hewitt. 

J.  Lavelle,  /,  .    .    . 

.  1874 

" 

E.  W.  Kirkham,  d, 

.  1872 

E.  Rider,  I,    .    .    . 

.  1862 

1867 

,  E.  S.  McChesnv. 

Thos.  Walker. 

(( 

W.  J.  Mitchell;  /, . 

.  1871 

Thos.  Little,  .    .    • 

.  1860 

(( 

A.  A.  Hoskins,  ?/', 

.  1880 

Geo.  C.  Haddock, 

/,  1882 

" 

S.  Reynolds,  v,  . 

.  1885 

A.  H.  Hall,  t,  .    . 

.  1863 

" 

H.  H.  Jones,  I  .   . 

.  1877 

M.  D.  Warner,  ?  . 

.  1867 

" 

S.  C.  Lamb,  /,    .    . 

.  1874 

B.  C.  Parker,  ?  .    . 

.  1873 

" 

S.  Yandersoll,  /,   . 

.  1770 

J.  G.  Pingree. 

i( 

T.  B.  Brown, .    .    . 

.  1867 

AV.  Carver,  t,    .    . 

.  1865 

'• 

G.  W.Wells,  d,  .    . 

.  1888 

C.  Steinson,  /.,  .    . 

.  1860 

(( 

E.  W.  Stevens,  /,  . 

.  1868 

W.  R.  Jones,  /,    • 

.  1878 

(( 

C.  X.  Stowers,  t,  . 

.  1880 

A.  B.  Bishop,  t,    . 

.  1870 

1868 

,  W.  W.  Painter. 

D.  H.  Mnll<  r,  (,    . 

.  1866 

(< 

W.  F.  Yocum,  .    . 

.  1869 

A.  J.  Mead. 

" 

Geo.  Parsons. 

C.  W.  Brooks,  t, 

.  1865 

u 

Jas.  Turner,  .    .    . 

.  1868 

S.  Fallows,  t,... 

.  1874 

(( 

J.  T.  Boy n ton,  (7,  . 

.  1884 

0.  A.  Willard,  ^  ■ 

.  1861 

a 

G.  H.  Moulton,  t,  . 

.  1885 

R.  W.  Bosworth. 

'< 

.h  sse  Cole,  t,  .  .    . 

.  1882 

E.  D.  Farnham. 

" 

A.  Moore,  d,  .    .    . 

.  1882 

R.  0.  Kellogg,  (I, 

.  .  1865 

(( 

AY.  AY.  AYindow,d, 

.  1886 

T.  C.  Willson. 

'< 

C.  W.  Brewer,  1,   . 

.  1866 

T.   F.  Allen,  t,  .    . 

.  1880 

u 

D.  Deal,  «,.... 

.  1870 

W.  Woodruff,  t,  . 

.  1880 

a 

C.  Skinner,  t,    .    . 

.  1869 

E.  W.  Pierce. 

(( 

H.  S.  White,  I,  .    . 

.  1874 

R.  M.  Beach,  t,    . 

.  1886 

" 

J.  T.  Ga^kill,  I,  .    . 

.  1874 

0.  J.  Cowles,  /,    . 

.  1880 

'< 

E.  D.  Huntley,  /, 

.  1875 

G.  F.  Reynolds. 

1869 

,  J.  P.  Roe,  t,    .    .    . 

.  1880 

B.  M.  Fullmer,  f, 

.  1883 

" 

J.  H.  Brooks,  t,  . 

1885 

J.  D.  Cole. 

(( 

J.  T.  Martell,  /,  .    . 

.  1872 

G.  A.  England,  t, 

.  1873 

<< 

L.  B.  Bullock. 

E.  E.  Lake,  /,  .    . 

.  1865 

(( 

C.  0.  Treider,  r,  . 

.  1879 

NAMES  OF  PREACHERS. 


479 


1869,  W.H.Thompson,/, 

.  1879 

1873,  C.  P.  Rudd,  t,    .    . 

.  1876 

"     S.  Halsev. 

"     Peter  Olfsou,  t,    . 

.  1876 

"     A.  Porter,  /,  .    .    . 

.  1872 

"     R.  E.  McBride,  t, 

.  .  1880 

"     G.  W.  Burtch,  t,  . 

1883 

"     M.  Evans. 

"    G.  C.  Wells,  t,  .    . 

.  1871 

"    T.  E.  Webb,  t,   .    . 

.  1874 

"     X.  Christophensen, 

.  1869 

1874,  01^^  Oleson,  t,    .    . 

.  1876 

"     J.  H.  Johnson,  t,  . 

.  1872 

"     N.  F.  Carstensen,  < 

,  .  1876 

"    0.  P.  Peterson,  t,  . 

.  1874 

"     C.  L.  Carlb-rg,  t, 

.  1876 

"     P.   E.  Brown,  t,    . 

.  1870 

*'     F.  Ring,  t,   .    .    . 

.  1876 

"     P.  Jensin,  r,  .    .    . 

.  1879 

"    N.  Jonasen,  I,    .    . 

.  1876 

1870,  J.  M.  Craig,  ^   .    . 

.  1875 

"     J.  Bakke,    .    .    . 

.1874 

"    J.  H.  Co]t,t,  .    .    . 

.  1878 

"     H.  P.  Berg,  t,    .    . 

.  1876 

"     I).  W.  Smith,  t,    , 

.  1877 

"     B,  Jorgensen,  t,    . 

.  1876 

"     E   H.Brunson, /,  . 

.  lcS73 

"     B.  Larssen,^,  .    . 

.  1876 

"     J.  Haw,  /,.... 

.  1876 

"     T.T.  Howard,/,   . 

.  1881 

"     Wm.  Bennett. 

"     G.  W.  Pratt. 

"     Wra.  C.  Cook,  f,    . 

.  1882 

"     W.  E.  AValker,  .    . 

.  1876 

"     Wm.Trever. 

"     0.  B.  Clark. 

"     P.  W.  Peterson. 

"     C.  A.  Stoekwell,  t 

.  1888 

"     C.  R.  Pattee,  f,  .    . 

.  1880 

•'     B.  F.  Sanford. 

"     W.  W.  Warner,  (/, 

.  1875 

'^     E.  S.  Ailing,  d,  .    . 

.  1878 

"     E.  B.  Cummings. 

"     W.  F.  Randolph, 

t,  .  1881 

"     T.  V.  Trenerv. 

"     A.  Hollington,  t, 

.  1879 

"     0.  B.  Thayer,  //•,  . 

.  1875 

"    T.  H.  Walker,  t,   . 

.  1885 

"     O.T.  Teal,'^    .    . 

.  1870 

"     C.  E.  Goldthorp. 

1871,  E.  L.  Eat-.n. 

1875,  B.  T.  AVhite. 

"     S.  A.  Olin. 

"     W.  W.  Willson. 

"     J.  B.  Cole. 

"     H.  F.  Knight. 

"     M.  Hansen,    .    .    . 

.  1872 

"     0.  WiersoD,  r,  . 

.  1879 

"     J.  P.  Robefts. 

"     P.  B.  Smith,  r,  . 

.  1879 

"     J.  W.  Fridd,  d,  .    . 

.  1888 

"     W.  C.  Sawyer,  /, 

.  1874 

"     J.  W.  Carhart,  v,  . 

.  1881 

"     S.N.Griffith,/, 

.  1884 

1872,  H.  S.  Carhart,  .    . 

.  1872 

"    C.  Omann,  t,  .    . 

.  1876 

''     A.  M.  Bullock. 

•'     W.  B.  Robinson. 

"     D.  Brown,  /,  .    .    . 

.  1883 

"    T.  Clilhero. 

"     S.  A.  Stockman,    . 

.  1872 

''     A.  P.  Mead,  (f,  . 

.  1887 

"     Karl  Sch(.u,?    .    . 

.  1879 

''     I.  S.  Leavitt. 

"     B.  Johansen,  t,  .    . 

.  1878 

"     H.  S.  Richardson 

"     L.  Doblong,  t,    .    . 

.  1876 

"     C.  L.  Haskell,  t, 

.  1878 

"     J.  W.  Whitney,    . 

.  1872 

1876,  F.  S.  Stein,  t. 

"     C.  R.  Chapin,  I,    . 

.  1876 

"    Jos.  Cross,  t,  .    . 

.  1876 

"     S.  E.  Willing,  w,  . 

.  1874 

"     W.  J.  Fisher. 

"     E.  A.  Wanlass,  ?  <, 

.  1886 

"     H.  Curtiss,  t,    . 

.  1883 

"     A.  C.  Higgins,  I,  . 

.  1878 

"     H.  Favill,  w,  .    . 

.    .  1888 

1873,  L.  F.  Cole,  /,  .    .    . 

.  1881 

"     J.  Favill,  IV,    .    . 

.  1886 

"     R.  J.  Judd. 

"     E.  G.  Updyke,  t, 

1889 

•*     D.  0.  Sanborn. 

"     F.  C.  Haddock,  . 

.  1877 

"     J.  F.  Decker. 

"     W.  C.  Waldron,  / 

.  1884 

"    J.  Christensen,  .  . 

.  1873 

"     J.  T.  Chenoetb,  I 

.  1880 

"     C.  Lorensen,  .    .    . 

.  1873 

"     J.  H.  Johnson,  r. 

.    .  1879 

"     M.  Nilson,  .... 

.  1873 

1877,  S.  P.  Murch,  I,  . 

.1881 

480 


APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  J  AND  II. 


IS77,  D.  S.  Howes,  d,    . 

.  1887 

1881,  G.  W.  Horton,  /,  . 

.  1887 

"     F.  F.  Teeter,  t,  .   . 

.  1883 

"     J.  F.  Tubbs,  t,    .    . 

1887 

"     J.  S.  Davis. 

"     F.  L.  Whorton,;,  . 

.  1889 

"     Axel  Gustafsen,  7% 

.  1879 

"     C  M.  Hurd,  t,  .    . 

.  18S5 

"     W.  W.  Ramsay.  I, 

.  1877 

1882,  W.  C.  Longden,/,  . 

.  18S4 

1878,  John  Yarty. 

"    T.  Cadman. 

"     A.  .J.  Benjamin. 

"     Wm.  Hoot  on. 

"     H.  G.  S-dgewic,  t, 

.  1884 

"     Perry  Millar. 

"     J.  Richardson,  d,  . 

.  1884 

"     0.  H.P.  Smith,  <,  . 

.  1887 

''     C  L.  Logan,  t,  .    . 

.  1883 

''     C.  W.  F.  Nelson,  /, 

.  1884 

''     E.  B.  L.  Elder. 

"     R.R.C.Gr«nthun,/ 

,  1885 

"     W.  F.  Dale,   .    .    . 

.  1878 

"     A.  D.  Mc.Henrv,  t, 

.  1887 

"     J.  0.  Saniker,  r. 

.  1879 

"     Thos.  Sharpe. 

"     J.  D.  Thoinsen,  r, . 

.  1879 

1883,  W.  H.  Lacv,  /,  .    . 

.  1887 

"     J.  0.  Hazelton,  i,  . 

.  1881 

"     E.  E.Cheeseman,/, 

.  1884 

"     L.  D.  Barrow. 

*'     T.  S.  Oadams,    .    . 

.  1885 

"     0.  1-.  Hanson,  r,  . 

.  1879 

*'     G.  H.  Trever. 

"     0.  P.  Peterson,  r,  . 

.  1879 

"     T.  H.  Drv,  t,... 

1888 

*'     D.  J.  Holmes,  ^   . 

.  1885 

"     W.  L.  King,  ^  .    . 

1884 

"     S.  Jolliffe. 

"     Enoch  Perry. 

1879,  J.  J.  Garvin. 

"     H.  0.  Cady. 

"     Geo.  White. 

"     L.  R.  Clendenning. 

"     F.  A.  Pease. 

''     M.  T.  Seeley,  t,  .  . 

1889 

'      E.  R.  Hay  ward. 

"     F.  B.  Sherwin. 

"     V.  Charroin,  t,  .    . 

.  1888 

"     W.D.Cornell. 

"    T.  J.  McMurray,  /, 

.  1883 

"     Frank  Millar. 

"     C.  E.  Smith,  t,  .    . 

.  1887 

"     J.  B.  Beadle. 

"     Eugene  Yager,  I,  ■ 

.  1882 

"     B.  P.  Raymond,  /, 

1889 

"     J.  Sanaker,  r,    .    . 

.  1879 

"     W.  F.  Warren,  /,  . 

1885 

"     H.  Danielson,  r,    . 

.  1879 

"     H.  C.  Mvres,  I,  •    • 

.  1886 

'      J.W.McCormir,  ?r, 

.  1881 

"     I.  G.  Pollard.  /,    . 

.  18S3 

1880,  C.  B.  Wilcox. 

"     J.  I.  Foot,  /.  ' 

"     0.  A.  Curtiss,  /,    . 

.  1880 

1884,  E.  Duckworth. 

"     D.J.  Whiting,  f,    . 

.  1889 

"     John  Wills. 

"     M.  F.  Stright,  t,    . 

.  1881 

"     JdS.  Churni. 

"     ('.  H.  Betts. 

"    J.  H.  Cooper,  /,  .    . 

1 886 

"     E.  B.  Lounsburv,  J, 

.  1886 

''     H.  W.  Brown. 

"     AV.  W.  StevensI 

"     W.  H.  Hollist-r,  /, 

1S88 

"     J.  R.  Creighton. 

"     E.  H.  Lugg. 

"     J.  E  Gilbert,  <,  .    . 

.  1883 

"     Albert  Smith,    .    . 

1887 

1881,  J.  E.  Wright. 

"     J.  S.  Norris. 

"     J.  N.  Nelson,  d,  .    . 

.  1882 

''     T.  W^  North. 

"     J.  H.  Nelson,  t,    . 

.  1887 

"     J.  S.  Loan. 

"     1).  H.  Snowdon,    . 

.  1881 

'<     Wm.  Med  land. 

"     H.P.  Haylett. 

"     Wm.  Rollins,  /,    . 

1 8.S7 

"     W.  R.  Mellot. 

"     R.  Davidson. 

"     C.A.Wilson,/  .    . 

.  1881 

"     Thos.  James. 

"     J.  Schneider. 

"     AVm.  Clark. 

"     G.  E.  Fellows,  .    . 

.  1884 

1885,  W.  D.  Cox. 

"     J.  A.  Brevier. 

"     Geo.  Merrifield,  /, 

.  18<K7 

"     P.Burk, 

.  1881 

"     A.  L.  AVhitcomb. 

DISTRICTS  AND  PASTORAL  CHARGES. 


481 


1885,  W.  E.  Morris. 

1888,  M.  S.  Terrv. 

"     E.  C.  Potter. 

"A.  A.Wood. 

"     J.  W.  Huston.  U   . 

.  1887 

"     W.  A.  Peterson. 

"     D.  0. John. 

"     F.  Robe£son. 

"     C.  Bristol, '(/;,  .    .    . 

.  1888 

"     J.  G.  Gelling. 

1886,  Wm.  Groves. 

"     M.  Wolverton. 

"     J.  R.  Fretts. 

"     S.  A   Sheard. 

"     W.  H.  Summers. 

"     A.  M.  DeFord. 

"     W.  Millar. 

"     :M.  a.  Drew. 

"     Frank  R.  Nimits. 

"     J.  J.  Hartley. 

•'     E.  0.  Bullock,  t,  . 

.  1888 

"     Wm.Moil. 

"     AV.  A.  Hall. 

"     Henry  Ostrum. 

"     Enoch  SavHge. 

"     W.  W.  Warner. 

"    T.  DeWitt  Peak. 

"     J.  M.  Woodward. 

"     J.  C.  Jackson,  t,    . 

.  1889 

1889,  T.  D.  Williams. 

"     S.  Plantz,  t,    .    .    . 

.  1887 

"     J.  D.  Kenesirick. 

"     J.  Howarth. 

"     C.  P.  Christian. 

"     J.  Reynolds. 

"     I).  C.  Savage. 

1887,  G.  W.  Verity. 

*'     J.  H.  James. 

'•     W.  G.  Cooper. 

"     C.  W.  Turner. 

'•     J.  H.  Tippett. 

''     M.  L.  Evertz. 

"     J.  E.  Henderson,  . 

.  1888 

"    W.  Botzer. 

"     W.  C.  Hickman. 

"     E.  J.  Svmons. 

"     W.  J.  Patten. 

"     Thos.  Roberts. 

"     J.  C.  Maxham. 

"     J.  N.  Funstoii. 

"     F-  C.  Bravton. 

"     S.  Light. 

"     W.  VVoodside. 

''     C.  W.  Gallagher. 

"     J.  E.  Farmer. 

"    Thos.  Day. 

Appendix  E. 
names  of  districts  and  pastoral  charges 

First  appearing  in  the  Minutes  of  the  Illinois  and  Rock 
River  Conferences  in  W^isconsin  ;  and  of  those  in  the  Min- 
utes of  \A^isconsin  Conference  in  this  State  and  in  Min- 
nesota, while  the  latter  was  under  the  supervision  of  the 
former. 

1834.  Iowa  Circuit,  in  Galena  District. 

1835.  Milwaukee,  in  Chicago  District. 

1836.  Root  River,  Oneida  and  Menomonee,  Green  Bay,  Platte- 

ville,  Mineral  Point,  Prairie  du  Chien. 

1837.  Milwaukee   District,  Racine,  Sheboygan,   Madison,  Azta- 

lan,  Helena,  Madison. 

1838.  Deansburg  and  Fond  du  Lac,  Honey  Creek. 

1839.  Fort  Winnebago,  Walworth,  Watertown. 

1840.  Lancaster,  Southport,  Burlington,  Troy,  Summit,  Wyota, 

Monroe,  Platteville  District. 
40 


482  APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  II. 

1841.  Potosi,  Janesville,  Hamilton  Grove,  Brothertown,  Sioux, 

St.  Croix,  Prairieville,  Green  Bay  District,  Indian  Mis- 
sion District. 

1842.  Sylvania,  Siigar  Creek,  Muscoda,  Wisconsin  Pinery,  Win- 

nebago Lake. 

1843.  Rock  River  District,  Big  Foot,  Whitewater,  Hazel  Green, 

Highland  Prairie,  Manitowoc. 

1844.  Blue  River,  Pewaukee*,  Washington  Mission. 

1845.  Dodgeville,  Sauk   Prairie,   Union   Green   Lake,   Lowell, 

Elkhorn  Menomonee  Mission. 

1846.  WaupuD,  Mequon,  Beloit. 

1847.  Franklin,  Black   River,  Welsh  ^Mission,   Columbus,  May- 

ville,  Grafton,  Waukesha  (formerly  Prairieville),  Pal- 
myra, Oconomowoc,  Prairie  du  Sac,  Racine  District, 
Fond  du  Lac  (in  place  of  Green  Bay)  District. 

1848.  Elk  Grove,  Albion,   Walker's  Point,   Wauwatosa,  R^ck 

Prairie,  Spring  Valley,  Exeter. 

1849.  Patch  Grove,  Wyoming  Valley,  Council  Hill,  Minnesota 

District,  St.  Paul,  St.  Anthony's  Falls,  Stillwater,  Bad 
Axe,  Sheboygan,  Oshkosh,  Marcellon,  Beaver  Dam, 
Grafton,  West  Bend,  Lodi,  Adams,  Honey  Creek, 
Geneva,  Eagleville,  Delavan,  South  Grove. 

1850.  A? ena.  Point  Douglass,  Chippewa  River,  Round  Prairie, 

Byron,  Plover,  Kingston,  Fall  River,  Metoman,  Omro, 
Appleton,  Green  Bush,  Hartford,  Bark  River,  Nor- 
wegian Mission,  Milton,  Dartford. 

1851.  Prairie  La  Crosse,  Sun  Prairie,  Black  Earth,  Pine  River, 

Baraboo  (formerly  Adams),  Reedsburg,  Princeton, 
Waupaca,  Cascade,  De  Pere,  Fox  River  District,  Reed 
Street,  Milwaukee  (same  as  AValker's  Point).  Oak 
Creek,  Bristol. 

1852.  ShuUsburg,    Fayette,   Sand'y    Lake,    St.   Peters,  Willow 

River,  Waukesha,  Richland  City,  Delton,  Fond  du 
Lac  North  Ward,  Winneconne,  Grove  Street  (Reed 
Street),  Fox  Lake,  Portage  City. 

1853.  Jackson   Street    (Milw^aukee),    South    Bristol,    Hebron, 

Montfort,  Beetown,  Monticello,  Montello,  Beilin,  Fen- 
nimrre,  Kirkapoo,  Sparta,  Benton  County  Mission, 
Travers  de  Sioux,  Shakopee,  Red  Wing,  Hudson, 
Marine  Mission,  Chippewa,  Prairie  du  Chien  District. 


♦Diopprd  until  18fi9. 


DISTRICTS  AND  PASTORAL  CHARGES.  483 

1854.  Platte,  Spring  Grove,  Lemon wier,  Poinette,  Waucoasta, 

Orion,  Virrqua,  Mont<  llo,  Prescott,  Reed's  Landing. 
Kaposia,  Maoketa,  Minneapolis,  Brownville,  Monte 
ville,  Luis  Valley,  Scandinavian  Mission  (in  Minnesota), 
Racine  Welsh  Mission,  Norwegian  ^Mission  (in  Fond 
du  Lac  District),  Wautoma,  Fort  Atkinson,  F.ake  Mills. 

1855.  Janesville  District,  Beaver  Dam   District,    Portage  City 

District,  Appleton  District,  La  Crosse  District,  Red 
Wing  District,  St.  Paul  District,  Winona  District, 
Ripon,  Evansville,  East  Janesville,  Horicon,  Burnett, 
Algoma,  Rosendale,  Neenali,  Horton ville,  Oconto, 
Charlestown,  Saxeville,  Welsh  Mission  (in  Winnt  b.igo 
County),  Oxford,  Roche-aCri,  Point  Bluff,  Blue  Mound, 
Waterloo,  Jamestown,  Rastman,  Onalaska,  Mendora, 
Caledonia,  Chatfield,  Cedar  River,  Elk  Prairie,  Ori- 
noco, Monteville,  Hastings,  Meridota,  Cannon  River, 
Minnetonka,  Cottage  Grove,  Superior. 

1856.  Applet' Ml  Second  Ward,  Menasha,  New  London  in  con 

neciion  with  Hortonville,  AVeyauwega,  Stevens  Point, 
Wausau,  Menomonee,  Brandon,  Marc^lion,  Fall  River, 
Jefferson,  Waterloo,  Columbus,  West  Beloit,  Utter's 
Corners,  P'ootville,  Cold  well's  Prairie,  Clinton  (now 
Clinton  Junction),  Keewaunee,  Empire,  Osbkosh  Mis- 
sion, Watertown  District,  Norwegian  District.  There 
had  been  two  Norwegian  Missions,  one  in  the  vicinity 
of  Neenah,  the  other  in  the  southern  and  northwest- 
ern parts  of  the  State.  These  tcok  the  following 
names:  Cambridge,  Racine,  Heart  Prairie,  Winnebago, 
Primrose,  Viroqua,  Richland,  Upper  Iowa,  St.  Paul, 
^linnesota,  Beaver. 

1857.  Newberg,  Lynn  and  Bkomfield,  Liberty  Prairie,  Poiter, 

Lamartine,  Michicott,  Emerald  Grove,  Wyccena,  Ran- 
dolph, Cambria  Welsh  Mission,  Greenville,  Manchester. 
Masbinee,  Grand  Rapids,  Summerfield  (Mil.),  Almond, 
Wautoma,  Saxeville,  Crystal  Lake,  Amherst,  De  Pere, 
Stevens  Point  District. 

1858.  Concord,  Waterford,  Sharon,  Shopiere,  Juntau,  Eureka, 

Maple  Grove,  Buena  Vista,  Hemlock,  Ogdensburer, 
Chilton,  Vinland,  Barton,  Neosho. 

1859.  New  Berlin,   Hustisford,  Racine  Welsh  Mission,  Edger- 

ton,  Stoughton,  jMarkesan,  Seminary  Grove,  Door 
Creek,  Portland,  Auburn,  Eldorado  Welsh  Mission, 
Brandt,  Gipson,  Pleasant  Prairie. 


484  APPEI^DICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  TL 

1860.  Granville,  Genesee,  Allen's  Grove,  Hebron,  OrforJville, 

Black  Wolf,  Two  Rivers,  Shawano. 

1861.  K  )me,  Mukwanigo,  Transit  and  Oakland  Center. 

1862.  AVaukau,  Gibraltar  Mission,  Union  Grove. 

186:>.  Croghville,  Iron  Ridge,  Sturgeon  Ba}^  Washington  Har- 
bor. 
1804.  Bine  River. 

1865.  Osborn,  N.  Osh  and  Vinland. 

1866.  Cottage  Grove. 

1867.  East  Granville,  Marshall,    Division    Street    and    Cotton 

Street  (Fond  du  Lac),  Beshtigo,  Suamico,  Embarrass. 

1868.  Fox  River,  North  Brairie,  Avon  and  Newark,  Hingham, 

Alto,  Bardeeville,  South  Omro,  Fish  Creek,  Wrights- 
town,  Clintonville,  Wilmot  (Oshkosh),  Second  Church, 
Bay  View. 

1869.  Mickfarlane,  Avon  and  Newark,  Zion,  Bewaukee,  Court 

Street  (Janesville),  Fort  Howard. 

1870.  Clemensville,  Marinette,  Rio,  Menomonee  Falls  (in  i)lace 

of  West  Granville). 

1871.  Eureka,  Ashland. 

1872.  Utica  Center  and  Zion,  Superior  City,  Benoka. 

1873.  Seymour,  C.olby,  Jenne. 

1874.  Third  Church    (Oshkosh),  Gravesville,  Northport,  Auro- 

raville. 

1875.  Algoma  Street  (Oshkosh,  changed  from  Third  Church), 

Eau  Claire. 

1876.  Union  and  Dupont. 

1877.  Union  Church  and  New  Berlin,  Franks  and  Caledonia, 

Oconto  Circuit,  Medford,  Spencer. 

1878.  Oshkosh  City  Mission. 

1879.  Koshkonong,  Campbellsport,  Oconto  Falls,  Bittsfield,  Bar- 

freyville  and  Crystal  Lake. 

1881.  Kaukauna,' WestBensaukee,  Antigo,  Dale  and  Fremont, 

Tigerton  and  Nora,  Merrill. 

1882.  Union  Church  (Racine),  Ahnape. 

1883.  St.  Nathan's,  Boisippi,  Simco  and  Maniwa,  West  Merrill. 

1884.  Franksville  and  Ives  Grove,  Wa.shington    Avenue  (Mil- 

waukee), Waterford  and  English  Settlement,  Burling- 
ton and  Baris. 

1885.  Eagle  River,  Maple  Valley,  Appleton  Circuit. 

1886.  Royalton  and  lola,  Sherman  Street  (Milwaukee), 

♦Disappeared  till  1886. 


SPECIAL   WORK. 


485 


1887.  Moiiico  and  State  Line,  Rhinelander,  Vesper  and  Rudolph. 
18S8.  Lena  and  Leighton,  Simpson  Cliurch  (Milwaukee),  Trin- 
it}''  (Bay  View),  Milwaukee  Circuit,  North   Greenfield. 
1889.  Hickor)^  and  Oconto  Falls,  Lima. 


Appendix  F. 


APPOINTMENTS  TO  SPECIAL  WORK. 

Educational. 

LAWRENCE  UNIVERSITY. 

W.  H.  Sampson,  principal  and  prjfessor,  1849-1853. 

Edward  Cook,  president,  1853-1859. 

W.  H.  Sampson,  professor,  1853-1857. 

R.  Z.  Mason,  professor,  1854-1861 ;  president,  18G1-1865. 

N.  E.  Cobleigh,  professor,  1854-1857. 

F.  0.  Blair,  professor,  1857-1858. 
E.  L.  Knox,  professor,  1858-1864. 
W.  F.  Yocum,  professor,  1869. 

G.  M.  Steele,  president,  1865-1879. 
C.  N.  Stowers,  professor,  1867-1868. 
W.  C.  Sawyer,  professor,  1875-1881. 
B.  P.  Raymond,  president,  1883-1889. 

N.  B. — E.  D.  Huntley,  a  member  of  tlie  West  Wisconsin 
Conference,  was  president  from  1879  to  1883.  W.  C.  Gal- 
lagher succeeded  B.  P.  Raymond  as  president  in  1889. 

Note. — These  were  all  ministers  appointed  from  Conference, 
after  election  by  the  trustees.  In  addition,  the  following 
named  persons  served,  or  are  serving,  as  i)rofessors  for  the 
p'^riods  indicated  by  the  dates: 

.  1849-185310.  P.  DeLand,  .  .  .  1872-1875 
.  1849-1852  !  Jas.  H.  Worman,  .  .  1872-1876 
.  1850-1851  T.  Martin  Town,  .  .  1874-1876 
.  1854-1889  10.  M.  Hvde,  .  .  •  .1874-1878 
.  1858-1863  I  Herbert  Perkins,  •  .  1877-1879 
.  1858-1860  !C.  A.  Perkins,  .  .  .1879-1881 
.  1858-1860  N.  M.  Wheeler,  .  .  .  1879-1885 
.  1863-1867  !  Henrv  Lumniis,  r, .  .  1885-1889 
.  1865-1867  !  F.  Cramer,  r,  .  .  .  .  1886-1889 
.  1867-1889    W.  Underwood,  r,  .  1886-1889 


R.  0.  Kellogg.    . 

Jas.  M.  Phinney, 

Jabez  Brooks,    . 

H.  A.  Jones,  /•,  . 

Henrv  Pomerov, 

0.  W'  Powers,  '. 

Ernst  Pletschke, 

J.  F.  Kellosfg,  .  ■ 

J.  E.  Davies,  .    . 

J.  C.  Fovp,  r,  .   t 

A.  Schindelmeiser,  .  1867-1870  I 


r,  Still  in  service. 


486  APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  II. 

PRECEPTRESSES. 

Miss  Emeline  M.  Crock<  r, 1849-1851 

L.  Amelia  Dayton, 1852-1854 

Mrs.  Electa  A.  Blair, 1855-1857 

Miss  Mary  Hastings, 1858-1859 

Mrs.  R.  C.  Newman  Knox, 1861-1863 

Miss  Cordelia  Sherman, 1863-1864 

Mrs.  L.  R.  Bead), 1864-1865 

Mrs.  H.  0.  Knox  (Nichols), 1865-1868 

Miss  Emma  L.  Knowls, 1868-1870 

Miss  Margaret  J.  Evans, 1870-1874 

I\[iss  Louisa  M.  Hodgkins, 1870-1870 

Miss  Hattie  A.  Conant, 1874-1875 

Miss  ^lary  E.  Ilarriman, 1876-1877 

Mrs.  OphVlia  Forward, 1877-1880 

Miss  Angle  V.  Warren, 1880-1882 

Miss  Grace  M.  Huntingti  n, 1882-1885 

Miss  Kate  A.  Ev.  rts,  r, 1886-1889 

OTHER  SPECIAL  WORK 

David  Brooks,  agent, 1851 -185o 

J.  S.  Prescott,  agent, 1853-1856 

A.  B.  Randall,  agent, 1853 

H.  Requa,  agent, 1853 

Asa  Wood,  agent, 1853 

J.  H.  Jenne,  agent, 1856 

S.  C.  Thomas,  agent, 1857-1861 

P.  S.  Bennett,  agent, 1861-1863 

M.  Himebaugh,  agent, 1864-1867 

J.  P.  Roe,  agent, 1871-1873 

A.  A.  Reed,  agent, 1873-1875 

T.  C.  Willson,  agent,  r, 1888-1889 

GARRETT  BIBLICAL  INSTITUTE. 

H.  Bannister,  professor,  1858-1883. 

M.  S.  Terry,  r,  professor,  1887-1889. 

H.  S.  Carhart,  professor  Northwestern  University,  1872. 

EVANSVILLE  SEMINARY. 

G.  A.  Smith,  principal,  1859. 

H.  Colman,  principal,  1863-1867. 

G.  W.  De  La  Mater,  agent,  1863. 

r,  Still  in  service. 


SPECIAL  WORK.  487 

I.  H.  Hammond,  principal,  1867. 

A.  M.  Stephens,  principal  of  Waterloo  Academy  in  1867. 

C.  N.  Stowers,  of  Whitewater  Collegiate  Institute  in  1875. 

American   Bible  Society. 
G.  H.  Fox,  agent,  1859. 
L.  Salisbury,  agent,  1864. 
E.  P.  Beech er,  agent,  1866-1869. 
Charles  Smith,  agent,  1866-1871. 
David  Lewis,  agent,  1866. 
H.  W.  Frink,  agent,  1866-1877. 
S.  Reynolds,  district  superintendent,  1867-1876. 
A.  J.  Mead,  r,  district  superintendent,  1888-1889. 
W.  J.  Olmstead,  agent,  1870-1872. 
George  Fellows,  agent,  1872-1873. 

Bethel,  or  Seaman's  Friend  Work. 

D.  W.  Couch,  1864. 

M.  Himebaugb,  superintendent  in  1867,  and  from  1874  to  1879. 
A.  H.  Walter,  chaplain,  1868. 
C.  G.  Lathrop,  1869-1872. 
J.  0.  Hazleton,  1879. 

Chaplaincies  in  the  Army. 

C.  D.  Pillsbury,  1862. 
J.  M.  Walker,  1864. 

D.  0.  Jones,  1864. 
S.  L.  Brown,  1861. 

H.  C.  Tilton,  a  part  of  the  interim  of  the  Conferences  of  1861 
and  1862. 

Foreign  Mission-work. 
I.  L.  Hauser,  India,  1860-1864. 
L.  N.  Wheeler,  China,  1865-1873;  also,  1881-1883. 
A.  E.  Wanlass,  Bulgaria,  1868-1871. 
C.  Willerup,  N^.rway,  1856-1875. 

Between  these  two  dates  fourteen  more  were  appointed, 
namely:  M.  Hensen,  A,  Oleson,  Peter  Oleson,  C.  Rund,  Ole 
Oleson,  N.  F.  Carstensen,  C.  L.  Carlberg,  F.  Ring,  .J.  Bakke, 
N.  Jonasen,  Hans  P.  Bergh,  B.  Jorgensen,  B.  L^rressen,  Lars 
Doblong.  In  1876  tliey  were  all  transferred  to  the  newly- 
formed  Norway  Confer-  nee. 

Karl  Schon,  M.  Nilson,  Jeno  Peterson,  and  J.  J.  Christen- 
sen,  missionaries  to  Denmark  in  1873. 


r,  Still  in  service. 


488  APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  11. 

In  1881,  Justus  H.  Nelson  and  John  R.  Nelson  weie  ap- 
pointed missionaries  to  South  America,  J.  E.  Wright  to  Cen- 
tral America,  and  J.  J.  Garvin  to  Montana. 

In  1883,  E.  B.  L.  Elder  was  appointed  to  Montana,  Victor 
Charroin  and  E.  B.  Cummingsto  Black  Hills,  and  T.  H.  Walker 
to  Dakota. 

In  188(3,  H.  O.  Cady,  missionary  to  Central  China. 

Miscellaneous. 

J.  M.  Walker  was  temperance  agent  in  1869,  and  agent  of 
tiie  Madis  >n  Church  in  1870. 

S.  Fallows  was  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction 
from  1870  to  1874. 

J.  E.  Gilbert,  Superint'^ndent  of  Sunday-school  Institute, 
in  1871. 

R.  Cooley,  temperance  agent,  in  1875. 

C.  O.  Treider,  editor  of  Den  Christliche  Talemand  {Christi<in 
Advocate),  from  1877  to  1879. 

W.  P.  Stowe,  r,  agent  of  Western  Bjok  Conceiii,  from  ISSO 
to  1889. 


Appendix  G. 

SPECIAL  vSERMONS. 
Missionary. 

The  General  Coni'erence  of  1852  ordered  the  bishops  to 
appoint,  at  each  Annual  Conference,  one  of  its  members  to 
preach  a  missionary  sermon  at  its  next  session.  This  table 
shows  the  appointees  each  year. 


1852. 

C.  Hobart. 

1862.  R.  Z.  M:\son. 

1853. 

I.  M.  Leihy. 

1863.  C.  D.  PiUsburv. 

1854. 

1864.  S.  Fallows. 

1855. 

1865.  G.  M.  Steele. 

1856. 

Wm.  McDonald. 

1866.  H.  C.  Til  ton. 

1857. 

1867.  G.  C.  Haddock. 

1858. 

I.  Searls. 

1868.  S.  Smith. 

1859. 

P.  S.  Bennett  (Fi 

'st  Con- 

1869.  W.  P.  Stowe. 

ference). 

1870.  0.  J.  Cowles. 

1859. 

L.  L.  Knox  (Second  Con- 

1871. 

ference). 

1872.  0.  B.  Thayer. 

1860. 

1873.  J.  W.  Carhart. 

1861. 

1874.  C.  N.  Stowfrs. 

Still  in  tlie  same  position. 


DELEGA  TES  TO  GENERAL  CONFERENCES.     489 


1875.  L.  N.  Wheeler. 

1876.  G.  A.  Smith. 

1877.  G.  C.  Haddock. 

1878.  F.  S.  Stein. 

1879.  H.  Colman. 

1880.  Thos.  Clithero. 

1881.  J.  L.  Hewitt. 

1882.  I.  S.  Leavitt. 


1883.  S.  Jolliffe. 

1884.  C.  M.  Heard. 

1885.  A.  E.  Wanlass. 

1886.  W.  B.  Robinson. 

1887.  G.  H.  Trever. 

1888.  Perry  Miller. 

1889.  T.  DeWitt  Peake. 


Other  Special  Sermons 

Ordered  from  time  to  time  as  indicated  below : 
1850.  W.  H.  Sampson,  Conference  sermon. 
1852.  E.  Yocum,  Christian  Perfection. 

1863.  Geo.  Fellows,  Bible  Cause. 

1864.  H.  Bannister,  Centenary  of  Methodism. 
1867.  P.  B.  Pease,  Conference  sermon. 

The  following,  to  1875  inclusive,  are  on 

Education. 

1863.  S.  Fallows.  1870.  C.  E.  Carpenter. 

1864.  1871. 

1866.  G.  M.  Steele.  1872.  G.  C.  Haddock. 

1867.  H.  Colman. 

1868.  C.  N.  Stowers. 

1869.  G.  A.  England. 


1873.  W.  W.  Case. 

1874.  A.  C.  Higgins. 

1875.  S.  N.  Griffith. 


Conference  Sermons 

1878.  H.  Bannister. 

1879.  T.  C.  Willson. 

1880.  P.  S.  Bennett. 

1881.  D.  J.  Holmes 

1882.  H.  S.  Eichardson. 


1883.  Thos.  Clithero. 

1884.  John  Faville. 

1885.  F.  L.  Whorton. 

1886.  J.  V.  Trenery. 


Semi-Centennial  Sermons. 

1887.  P.  S.  Bennett.  I  1889.  C.  D.  Pillsbury. 

1888.  M.  Himebaugh.  | 


Appendix  H. 
delegates  to  general  conferencevs. 

1852. 

C.  Hobart,  W.  H.  Sampson,  H.  Summers. 

1856. 
P.  S.  Bennett,  I.  M.  Leihy,  Edward  Cook,  Elmore  Yocum, 
Chauncey  Hobart. 

41 


490  APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  II. 

I860. 

W.  G.  Miller,  I.  M.  Leihy,  S.  C.  Thomas,  Edward  Cook, 
Pbilo  S.  Bennett. 

1864. 

H.  Bannister,  S.  C.  Thomas,  C.  D.  Pillsbury,  Matthias  Hime- 
baiigh.     Reserves— J.  H.  Jenne,  W.  G.  Miller. 

1868. 
G.  M.  Steele,  W.  G.  Miller,  S.  Fallows,  Henry  Bannister, 
C.  D.  Pillsbury.     Reserves— S.  C.  Thomas,  Jos.  Anderson,  E.  S. 
Gfumley. 

1872. 

This  year  marks  the  era  when  laymen  were  admitted  to 
our  General  Conference.  Hereafter,  therefore,  delegates- elect 
will  be  designated  as  Clerical  and  Lay. 

Clerical— G.  M.  Steele,  P.  B.  Pease,  Henry  Bannister,  C.  D. 
Pillsbury,  W.  G.  Miller.  Reserves— S.  Fallows,  W.  H.  Sampson, 
W.  P.  Stowe. 

Lay— R.  P.  Elmore,  Wm.  P.  Lyon.  Reserves— B.  Kingsbury, 
H.  A.  Jones. 

1876. 

Clerical— G.  M.  Steele,  W.  P.  Stowe,  Henry  Colman,  J.  M. 
Walker. 

Lay — Daniel  Mowe,  Edwin  Hyde.  Reserves — Geo.  Rogers, 
M.  D.  Moore. 

1880. 

Clerical— L.  N.  Wheeler,  W.  P.  Stowe,  0.  J.  Cowles,  J.  H. 
Johnson.     Reserves — A.  J.  Mead,  H.  Colman. 

Lay— R.  McMillen,  Z.  P.  Burdick.  Reserves— E.  L.  Grant, 
R.  P.  Elmore. 

1884. 

Clerical — W.  P.  Stowe,  S.  Halsey,  Joseph  Anderson,  J.  M. 
Walker.     Reserves — A.  J.  Mead,  Thos.  Clithero. 

Lay — Geo.  Foster,  M.  D.  Moore.  Reserves — H.  S.  Alban, 
S.  C.  Blake. 

1888. 

Clerical — B.  P.  Raymond,  W.  P.  Stowe,  Sabin  Halsey, 
Thos.  Clithero.     Reserves— G.  W.  Wells,  I.  S.  Leavitt. 

Lay — Geo.  Foster,  E.  L.  Paine.*  Reserves — Mrs.  L.  S.  Col- 
man, J.  H.  Whorton. 


*  The  oldest  member  of  the  body— over  ninety  years  old. 


ERECTION  OF  CHURCH  EDIFICES.  491 

Appendix  I. 

DATEvS  OF  THE  ERECTION  OF  CHURCH  EDIFICES. 

It  has  been  exceedingly  difficult  to  secure  accuracy  in  this 
table.  In  some  instances  churches  are  erected  in  places  not 
indicated  by  the  name  of  the  pastoral  charge  ;  then  sometimes 
the  name  of  a  charge  is  changed,  and  not  unfrequently  a  place 
containing  a  churcli  is  transferred  to  some  other  charge.  It  is 
believed,  however,  that  few  mistakes  have  been  made. 

The  reader  may  remember  that  in  1832  a  log  building 
was  erected  near  Kaukauna  for  school  and  Churcli  purposes, 
in  connection  with  the  Indian  Mission.  Also  that  a  small  log 
structure  at  Platteville,  formerly  used  as  a  court-room  by 
Judge  Rountree,  was  converted  into  a  place  of  worship  late  in 
1833,  and  thus  used  till  the  next  year,  wiien  it  w^as  succeeded 
by  a  larger  one  desigaed  for  a  school-house  as  well  as  Church 
services.    These  are  not  indicated  in  the  following  table. 

In  1850  we  commenced  to  pubhsh  our  Conference  Minutes. 
At  that  time  36  church  edifices  were  reported  by  districts,  as 
follows :  Platteville  District,  16 ,  Minnesota  District,  1 ;  Fond 
du  Lac  District,  4  ;  Milwaukee  District,  6;  and  Racine  Dis- 
trict, 9.  These  seem  to  have  been  in  the  following  named 
places.  The  dates  at  the  left  indicate  the  close  of  the  Confer- 
ence year  during  which  they  were  erected.  A  star  indicates 
that  the  time  of  the  erection  of  the  church  there  is  unknown, 
though  prior  to  1850. 
1837.  Green  Bay,  Platteville. 

1840.  Oneida,  Southport  (now  Kenosha),  Kellogg's  Corners  (in 

Sylvania  Circuit). 

1841.  Milwaukee  (now  Grand   Avenue),  Waukesha,   Mineral 

Point. 
1844.  Racine. 

1846.  Beaver  Dam  (?),  Watertown  (?). 

1847.  Evansville  (in  Union  Circuit). 

1848.  Whitewater,  Walker's  Point  (now  Asbury,  Milwaukee), 

Janesville. 
1850.  Madison,    Fort    Atkinson    (in    Aztalan   Circuit),  Beloit, 
Dartford,  St.  Paul,  Hazel  Green,  East  Troy,*  Potosi,* 
Franklin,*   Monroe,*  Dodgeville,*  Hamilton  Grove,* 
Council  Hill,  eight* 


492  APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  IL 

There  is  less  doubt  about  the  following  as  they  were  reported 
at  the  Conferences  held  the  years  indicated  by  the  dates: 

1851.  Elk  Grove,  Adams,  Fall  River,  Oshkosh,   Brothertown, 

Sheboygan,  Palmyra  (?),  Lodi,  Oconomowoc,  Spring 
Valley,  Milton,  Little  Prairie. 

1852.  Lynden,  Peddler's  Creek,  Lancaster,  Baraboo,  Waupaca, 

Fond  du  Lac  (two),  Sheboygan  Falls,  Cambridge  (Nor- 
wegian Church,  Grafton,  Bristol. 

1853.  Shullsburg,  Patch  Grove,  Prairie  du  Chien,  Fayette,  St. 

Anthony's  Falls,  Plover,  Cascade,  Omro. 

1854.  Jackson  Street,  Milwaukee ;   West  Bend,  South  Grove, 

Appleton,  Waupun,  Berlin,  Manitowoc. 

1855.  Lake  Mills,  Hebron,  Brookfield,  Monticello,  Sun  Prairie, 

Green  Bush,  Fox  Lake,  La  Crosse. 

1856.  Port  Washington,  Geneva,  Horicon,  Ripon,  Columbus, 

Menasha,  Two  Rivers. 
1857-1858.  No  reports  in  the  Minutes.     Hence,  some  of  those 
reported  in  1859  may  have  been  erected  in  these  years. 

1859.  Delavan,  Sharon,  Allen's  Grove,  Chnton,  Heart  Prairie, 

Emerald  Grove,  Titter's  Corners,  Stoughton,  Shopiere, 
Lowell,  Burnett,  Brandon,  Princeton,  Byron,  Ros- 
endale,  Menomonee  Falls,  Winneconne,  Wausau, 
Weyauwega,  Summerfield  (Milwaukee),  successor  to 
Jackson  Street  Church. 

1860.  West  Granville,   Neosho,   Hartford,   Waterloo,  De  Pere, 

Stevens'  Point,  Almond,  Crystal  Lake. 

1861.  New  Berlin,  Lyons,  Orfordville,   Door  Creek,  Portland, 

Randolph,  Yinland. 

1862.  Rome,  Wyocena,  Maple  Grove,  Union  Grove. 

1863.  Chilton,  North  Vinland,  Wautoma. 

1864.  Clinton,  Edgerton,  Iron  Ridge,  Neenah,  Nekimi,  Amherst, 

1865.  Geneva,  Markesan, 

1866.  Cascade,  Oconto. 

1867.  Cottage  Grove,  Jefferson,  Kingston ,  Sturgeon  Bay,  Grand 

Rapids,  Waukau,  Liberty  Prairie,  Zion,  Ogdensburg, 
Northport,  Royalton. 

1868.  Johnston's  Creek,  Empire,  Shawano. 

1869.  Marshall,  Avon,  Pardeeville,  Alto,  Ogdensburg,  Eureka, 

Bay  View,  Oshkosh  (Second  Church),  Northport. 

1870.  Wauwatosa,     East     Granville,     McFarlane,     Hingham, 

Croghville,  Osborne,  Marinette,  Court  Street  (Janes- 
ville). 

1871.  Pewaukee,  Fort  Howard,  Royalton. 


ERECTION  OF  CHURCH  EDTFICES.  493 

1872.  West  Bend,  Green  Lake. 

1873.  Water  ford. 

1874.  Ashland,  Oakland,  Rural. 

1875.  Algonia  Street  (Oahkosh),  Suamico,  Oconto  Falls,  Graves- 

ville,  Auroraville,  Hortonville. 

1876.  Franks ville,  Medina. 

1878.  Peshtigo. 

1879.  Medford,  Spencer. 

1880.  Campbellsport,  Mackford,  Jenne  (now  Merrill). 

1881.  Wriglitstown,  Clintonville,  New  Loudon. 

1882.  Union   Church    (Racine),  Black    Creek,  Pittsfield,  Pen- 

saukee. 

1883.  London,  or  Oak  Center. 

1884.  Was^hington    Avenue    (Milwaukee),     Antigo,    Maniwa, 

Hutchins. 

1887.  Kaukauna,  Sherman  Street  (Milwaukee). 

1888.  lola,  Rhinelander. 

1889.  Simco,  Trinity  (Bay  View.) 


494 


APPENDICES  TO  PARTS  I  AND  II. 


Appendix  J. 

SESSIONS  OF  THE  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


Time. 


1848— Julv  12 
1849— July  17 
1850— June  2G 
1851  -June  25 
1852- Sept.  1. 
1853— Aug.  31 
1854— Aug.  80 
1855— Aug.  29 
1856— Sept.  V, 
1857— Aug.  20 
1858-lMavll 
1859— Apr.  20. 
1859— Oct.  13 
1860— Sept.  26 
1861— Sept.  r 
1862— Oct.  6.  . 
1868— Oct.  6... 
1864— Oct.  6... 
1865- Oct.  6... 
1866— Sept.  6. 
1867— Oct.  2... 
1868— Oct.  1... 
1869— Sept.  23 
1870— Oct.  12. 
1871— Oct.  11... 
1872— Oct.  9.... 
1873— Oct.  15.. 
1874— Oct.  7.... 
1875— Oct.  13. 
1876— Oct.  4.... 
1877— Oct.  14.. 
1878— Oct.  1... 
1879— Oct.  2.... 
1880— Oct.  13... 
1881— Sept.  21 
1882— Sept.  28 
1883— Oct.  3... 
1884- Oct.  4... 
188.5— Oct.  S... 
1886— Sept.  2; 
1887— Oct.  5... 
1888— Sept.  26 
1889— Sept.  25 


Place. 


Southport 

Platte  ville 

Beloit 

Waukesha 

Fond  du  Lac 

Earaboo  

Janesville  

Racine 

Appleton 

Milwaukee 

Beloit 

Sheboygan  Falls 

Whitewater 

Janesville  

Fond  du  Lac 

Kenosha 

Waukesha 

Oshkosh 

Milwaukee 

Ripou  

Beaver  Dam 

Racine 

Appleton  

Janesville 

Milwaukee 

Fond  du  Lac 

Whitewater 

Oshkosh 

Racine 

Waupaca 

Wiiupun 

Fort  Atkinson... 

Milwaukee 

A])pleton 

Whitewater 

Fond  du  Lac 

Milwaukee 

Oshkosh  

Waukesha 

Berlin  

Appleton 

Racine 

Beaver  Dam  


^ 

7^ 

t" 

7? 

~ 

St 

i^ 

< 

v' 

^ 

oT 

c 

(t 

'i 

y 

?~ 

c- 

S- 

~ 

^ 

Bishop. 

Secretary. 

P 

= 

^ 

p 

= 

s- 

p] 

1 

90 

Y- 

Morris.... 

F.M.Mills 

3 

9 

5 

2 

1 

2 

Janes 

J.  H.  Sampson  ... 

2 

10 

5 

5 

8 

1 

2 

1 

1 

Hamline 

J.  K.  WiLson 

3 

18 

2 

2 

7 

2 

2 

3 

Waugh... 

W.  H.  Sampson.. 

0 

2 

23 

a 

2 

4 

3 

2 

Ames 

W.  H.  Sampson.. 

15 

17 

15 

5 

7 

1 

8 

1 

Scott 

J.  W.  Ford 

22 

11 

10 

5 

3 

1 

Morris... 

W.  H.  Sampson.. 

39 

10 

7 

14 

1 

Janes 

W.  H.  Sampson.. 

3 

6 

18 

17 

11 

1 

1 

i 

Simpson 

W.  H    Sampson.. 

19 

10 

10 

;"> 

1 

11 

Ames 

W.  H.  Samp-son.. 

14 

8 

8 

6 

7 

1 

1 

Morris.. 

W.  G.  Miller 

21 

8 

6 

10 

1 

1 

I 

11 

Baker.... 

W.  G.  Miller 

14 

10 

7 

4 

2 

1 

Ames.... 

S.  W.  Ford 

5 

17 

14 

/ 

8 

Scott 

S.W.  Ford 

13 

10 

7 

4 

5 

1 

3 

i 

Baker.... 
Janes.... 

S  W    Ford 

4 

4_ 

3 

12 

3 

1 

1 

r 

9 

S.  W.  Ford 

3 

1 

Scott 

S.  Fallows 

3 

8 

8 

/ 

4 

n 

9 

9 

Scott 

Baker 

Clark 

Simpson 

S.  Fallows 

2 

2 
4 
3 

"3 

5 
4 
4 
4 

4 

1 

6 

4 
3 

7 
9 
5 
4 

1 
•> 

1 

1 
1 
4 
4 

3 

S   Fallows 

S    Fallows 

s.  Fallows 

Ames 

S.  Fallows 

1 

7 

4 

6 

4 

8 

4 

Scott 

S.  Fallows 

1 

9 

5 

5 

3 

1 

9 

Clark 

S.  Fallows 

9 

7 

13 

9 

2 

7 

3 

Simpson 

S.  Fallows 

4 

2 

4 

9 

9 

4 

3 

8 

Haven  ... 

S.  Fallows 

4 

7 

13 

9 

9 

•; 

s 

Merrill ... 

H.  Colman 

2 

10 

3 

8 

7 

2 

4 

1 

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Wiley.... 

3 

2 

16 

8 

8 

1 
3 

9 

3 

3 
9 

1 
2 

1 

0 

2 

1 

H.  Colman 

1 

Bowman 

H.  Colman 

2 

2 

8 

6 

6 

4 

2 

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1 

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Peck 

H.  Colman 

1 

3 

3 

6 

3 

1 

1 

3 

3 

Foster.... 

H.  Colman  

1 

3 

9 

6 

5 

4 

2 

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H.  Colman  

2 

9 

3 

4 

3 

1 

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Sabin  Halsev 

7 

6 

4 

3 

/ 

1 

1 

9 

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Sabiu  Halsey 

7 

12 

9 

7 

•; 

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9 

3 

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Sabin  Halsev 

3 

7 

8 

5 

7 

1 

1 

4 

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Hurst 

Sabin  Halsey 

0 

14 

5 

6 

5 

4 

6 

2 

Mallalieu 

Sabin  Halsey.... 

2 

8 

/ 

10 

8 

2 

5 

2 

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4 

4 

9 

3 

6 

1 

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V 

3 

Merrill... 

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4 

8 

7 

8 

0 

2 

9 

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R.  W.  Bosworth.. 

1 

7 

6 

5 

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11 

4 

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3 

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WEST 


APPKNDICKS 

TO 

WISCONSIN     AND    NORTHWEST 
CONSIN    CONFERENCES. 


WIS- 


NOTE. — All  the  references  to  Appendices  in  Part  i: 
late  to  the  above  Conferences. 


Appendix  A. 

NUMBER  OF  MEMBERS,  PREACHERS,  AND  PASTORAL 
CHARGES  EACH  YEAR. 

WEST  WISCONSIN  COBfFEREKCE. 


^^ 

„ 

[-1 

K 

-  cp 

cc 

H  1 

^ 

•T3 

Year. 

1 

i 
1 

2 
2 

•3 

if 

-  7 

% 

'otal   Mem- 
bers   and 
Preachers... 

1- 

-  P 
:  % 

1856,  .  . 

4,926 

823 

129 

67 

1 

4 

4,998 

71 

10 

1857,  .  . 

5,480 

1,378 

133 

84 

4 

5,568 

82 

5 

1858,  .  . 

6,161 

3,343 

156 

87 

1 

4 

6,263 

86 

10 

1859,  .  . 

7,489 

1,911 

165 

94 

1 

4 

7,583 

93 

12 

I860,-  . 

7,158 

1,399 

139 

69 

5 

7,232 

79 

10 

1861,  .  . 

7,107 

925 

141 

67 

.    . 

10 

7,184 

77 

13 

1862,  .  . 

6,958 

821 

131 

68 

7 

7,033 

70 

4 

1863,  .  . 

6,236 

1,267 

138 

64 

*    • 

8 

6,308 

67 

4 

1864,  .  . 

6,829 

669 

140 

64 

5 

6,898 

72 

10 

1865,  .  . 

6,199 

743 

115 

70 

3 

9 

6,281 

73 

6 

1866,  .  . 

6,337 

1,065 

135 

63 

4 

14 

6,428 

71 

8 

1867,  .  . 

6,932 

1,268 

148 

68 

3 

13 

7,016 

76 

8 

1868,t  . 

10,514 

1,653 

209 

100 

2 

16 

10,632 

117 

21 

1869,  .  . 

1   10,431 

1,785 

185 

108 

5 

12 

10,556 

111 

10 

1870,  .  . 

11,065 

1,658 

200 

108 

7 

10 

11,190 

Jil 

11 

1871,  .  . 

10,594 

1,360 

186 

111 

3 

8 

10,716 

118 

7 

1872,  .  . 

10,623 

1,583 

184 

113 

4 

9 

10,749 

124 

13 

1873,  .  . 

10,638 

1,063 

169 

117 

6 

10 

10,771 

122 

9 

1874,  .  . 

'   11,178 

1,309 

183 

114 

3 

14 

11,309 

119 

11 

1875,  .  . 

10,743 

1,141 

192 

118 

5 

11 

10,877 

126 

7 

1876,  .  . 

11,018 

1,303 

173 

123 

8 

12 

11,161 

121 

3 

1877,  .  . 

12,094 

1,411 

170 

121 

7 

11 

12,233 

122 

7 

1878,  .  . 

11,901 

1,168 

125 

113 

13 

13 

12,040 

117 

12 

♦  Northwest  Wisconsin  Conference  organized. 

t  Northwest  Wisconsin  Conference  merged  in  West  Wisconsin. 


498 


APPENDICES  TO  PART  III. 


Year. 


1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883, 
1884, 
1885, 
1886 
1887; 
1888: 
1889 


2 

? 

-.r 

'^  3; 

(72 

a  c 

^f 

^^^ 

-.^ 

5 

i  ^ 

$% 

P? 

$%iL 

^^i 

$ 

-< 

o" 

g- 

'&< 

>-s 

P5 

&"■  2 

^i 

11,812 

3 

f 

f 

^ 

&- 

3|g 

1,163 

142 

115 

12 

14 

11,953 

120 

11,544 

906 

138 

114 

16 

14 

11,688 

124 

11,138 

716 

131 

105 

14 

15 

11,272 

121 

10,965 

624 

120 

105 

12 

13 

11,092 

130 

10,240 

585 

113 

110 

8 

12 

10,370 

125 

10,702 

910 

123 

109 

10 

13 

10,844 

131 

10,835 

929 

112 

109 

14 

16 

10,974 

129 

11,703 

1,024 

111 

102 

13 

18 

11,836 

130 

12,037 

1,167 

108 

103 

14 

17 

12,171 

138 

12,494 

1,668 

108 

114 

16 

18 

12,642 

145 

13,513 

1,967 

107 

122 

12 

19 

13,666 

144 

NORTHIVEI^T  WISCONSIN  t'OXFERENCE. 


1860,  .  . 

1,771 

520 

20 

38 

2 

1,811 

42 

6 

1861, 

2,027 

385 

31 

33 

3 

2,063 

37 

6 

1862, 

1,939 

300 

40 

36 

3 

1,978 

35 

5 

1863, 

2,132 

369 

38 

34 

4 

2,170 

37 

4 

1864, 

2,227 

381 

32 

28 

3 

2,258 

36 

9 

1865, 

2,260 

445 

41 

31 

4 

2 

2,298 

38 

8 

1866, 

2,573 

597 

39 

33 

3 

4 

2,613 

43 

14 

1867, 

2,796 

555 

45 

34 

2 

4 

2,836 

46 

11 

Appendix  B. 


BENEVOLENCES. 

^VEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 


Year. 

1. 

a 

CO 

2 
9 

i  1 

P 

:  B 
•  2 

o  =»" 

If 
:  ^ 

1 

5' 

if 

Is 

1856,  • 

1857,  • 
1858,-  • 
1859,  • 
1860,t  • 
1861,  • 

$1,115 

999 

562 

843 

1,270 

2,094 

$153 
196 
79 
80 
40 
69 

$48 
84 
124 
396 
132 
86 

i 

534 
12 

1 
12 

6 
40 

$113 

142 

2 

40 

57 

62 

•  • 

^ 

■  ■ 

*  This  Conference  year  was  only  six  montlis. 

fThe  Northwest  Wisconsin  Conference  organized  this  year. 


BENEVOLENCES. 


499 


Year. 

Missions 

2? 

5  ? 

11 

i 

=  o- 

a 

:  ffi 
:  3 

li 

i'i 

other  Benovo't 
Collections.... 

Educational 

1862,  . 

$1,705 

$71 

$157 

$32 

$65 

18t)3,  • 

2  727 

145 

105 

74 

132 

.  . 

1864,  • 

2,812 

169 

370 

77 

92 

. 

1865, 

2,904 

191 

492 

65 

86 

. 

1860, 

3,349 

197 

770 

58 

112 

$230 

1867,  • 

3.078 

468 

1,330 

86 

167 

958 

1868,  • 

4.846 

737 

1,552 

135 

241 

390 

$89 

1869,  • 

4,367 

534 

1,338 

95 

179 

293 

26 

1870,  • 

3,517 

462 

1,021 

89 

192 

332 

38 

1871,  • 

3.461 

518 

1,139 

78 

153 

309 

46 

$64 

•  ■   I 

^8  .  . 

1872,  • 

3,034 

514 

,  . 

77 

129 

306 

120 

54 

32  .  . 

1873,  • 

3.282 

599 

. 

74 

95 

279 

93 

78 

37  .  . 

1874,-- 

2  809 

461 

64 

112 

239 

97 

151 

67  .  . 

1875,  • 

3,326 

518 

66 

103 

382 

187 

102 

40  .  . 

1876,  • 

2,502 

405 

. 

55 

75 

310 

169 

142 

58  .  . 

1877,  • 

2,876 

492 

230 

68 

80 

437 

255 

160 

62  .  . 

1878,  • 

2,327 

433 

97 

61 

91 

310 

351 

193 

51  .  . 

1879,  ■ 

2,704 

450 

75 

63 

75 

358 

240 

196 

.  .    ] 

L24  .  . 

1880,  • 

2,544 

528 

77 

70 

124 

421 

268 

299 

.  . 

r27  $789 

1881,  • 

3,172 

497 

93 

76 

106 

406 

287 

268 

.  .    ] 

L89  681 

1882,  • 

3,239 

539 

132 

79 

93 

417 

292 

485 

i 

>39  251 

1883,  • 

3,382 

518 

111 

70 

81 

387 

283 

479 

( 

>84  413 

1884,  . 

2,95b 

540 

119 

75 

75 

334 

304 

458 

$7  I 

)18  141 

1885,  . 

3,354 

708 

95 

63 

82 

323 

346 

430 

9  I 

)09  1,742 

1886,  • . 

3  579 

715 

104 

80 

106 

379 

565 

624 

88  I 

)16  1,018 

1887,  . 

4,326 

772 

151 

86 

113 

438 

475 

499 

349  I 

)04  1,424 

1888,  • 

4,444 

824 

177 

100 

122 

438 

532 

623 

823  I 

)74  611 

1^89.  • 

5,565 

938 

157 

147 

172 

610 

692 

844 

605  ( 

)18  863 

NORTHWEST    WISCONSIN    CONFEKE^CE. 


1860, 
1861, 
1862, 
1863, 
1864, 
1865, 
1866, 
1867. 


98  1 
181i  6 
1761       9 


4591 
419| 
850; 

953; 

7741 


30 


2  10 

9  25{ 

3       2  18 

18      14|  56| 

36! 


56|  .    . 
35      16     57;  .    . 
531      45     96;  152 
597      29      45;  149 


18 


*  The  N()itli\ve^:t  Wisconsin  Conference  merged  this  year  in  this  Con- 
ference. 


500  APPENDICES  TO  PART  III. 

Appendix  C. 


NUMBER  OF  CHURCH   EDIFICES,  VALUATION  ; 

Parsonages,   Valuation;   Number  of  Sunday-schools,  Officers 

and  Teachers,  Scholars  and  Conversions. 

WEST  WISCONSi:!lf  CONFERENCE. 


Year. 


1856, 

1857, 

1858, 

1859, 

1860, 

1861, 

1862, 

1863, 

1864, 

1865, 

1866, 

1867, 

1868,- 

1869, 

1870, 

1871, 

1872, 

1873, 

1874, 

1875, 

1876, 

1877, 

1878, 

1879, 

1880, 

1881, 

1882, 

1883, 

1884, 

1885, 

1886, 

1887, 

1888, 

1889, 


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-^ 

-- 

^ 

c^ 

o 

5P 

s^ 

p. 

S 

'd. 

'%? 

o 

o 

si 

o 

o 

Pi 

: 
: 

36 

19 

113 

981 

4,662 

37 

$41,970 

29 

'$12,890 

142 

1,188 

6.054 

42 

55,700 

32 

13,950 

151 

1,274 

5,713 

47 

70,350 

34 

15,400 

226 

1,731 

7,315 

46 

62,925 

32 

13,400 

194 

1,743 

8,27J 

59 

75,150 

31 

12,725 

186 

1,849 

8,244 

59 

71,475 

32 

13,175 

190 

1,766 

8,819 

68 

83,900 

35 

14,380 

177 

1,670 

8,782 

78 

107,100 

36 

14,975 

192 

1,822 

10,008 

71 

101,670 

36 

16,725 

152 

1,519 

8,026 

83 

128,025 

43 

22,350 

168 

1,828 

10,291 

86 

161,650 

45 

28,675 

214 

2,120 

11,399 

125 

270,250 

72 

52,575 

327 

2,907 

16,194 

126 

295,111 

70 

57,300 

291 

2,766 

15,066 

137 

336,325 

71 

57,710 

299 

2,798 

15,862 

137 

340,420 

70 

55,525 

272 

2,576 

15,760 

137^ 

383,560 

70 

52,800 

280 

2,512 

14,782 

139 

361,950 

70 

59,100 

275 

2,364 

14,776 

170 

408,400 

76 

58,800 

312 

2,784 

16,720 

177 

439,005 

79 

63,200 

284 

2,493 

16,009 

182 

457.876 

81 

63,577 

305 

2,520 

15,262 

187 

461,445 

85 

70,995 

314 

2,696 

17,056 

182 

468,650 

83 

64,070 

298 

2,582 

15,964 

183 

445,200 

81 

62,605 

304 

2,629 

15,675 

192 

426,725 

84 

64,790 

270 

2,355 

14,089 

200 

442,175 

84 

68,065 

276 

2,293 

14,082 

200 

446,725 

81 

71,825 

253 

2,210 

14,173 

20(^ 

464,145 

82 

80,725 

224 

2,023 

12,613 

216 

483,430 

87 

80,050 

256 

2,257 

14,259 

220 

492,313 

89 

84,525 

255 

2,309 

14,783 

228 

501,835 

88 

84,750 

278 

2,361 

15,274 

226.^ 

533,025 

89 

91,465 

284 

2,478 

16,807 

23i 

541,730 

91 

94,700 

286 

2,668 

17,430 

243 

560,375 

97 

104,654 

298 

2,687 

19,210 

44 

127 

197 


384 
527 
455 
534 
375 
417 
427 
585 
708 
459 


'-Northwest  Wisconsin  merged  in  tliis. 


CHURCH  EDIFICES— NAMES  OF  PREACHERS.  501 


NORTHWEST  U^ISCON.SIN  CONFERENCE. 


^ 

<! 

^ 

^ 

&^ 

o 

t; 

^_ 

M=- 

o 

s 

-^  • 

Year. 

^■^ 

p 
^ 

o 

3 

p 

^a 

p" 

•5 

o 

IK 

o 

'i^rs. 

3 

r 

O  c 

^3 

7- 

1860,      .    .    . 

7 

$14,200 

5 

$1,700 

69 

433 

1,918 

26 

1861, 

10 

13,600 

15 

4,375 

96 

600 

2,578 

30 

1862, 

11 

11,950 

11 

3,300 

105 

710 

3,064 

36 

1863, 

13 

16,575 

12 

4,050 

99 

645 

3,060 

40 

1864, 

1-1 

18,850 

15 

5,370 

97 

628 

3,204 

55 

1865, 

15 

23,050 

15 

6,700 

89 

647 

3,176 

60 

1866, 

16 

33,450 

17 

6,800 

108 

789 

4,079 

1867, 

25 

54,700 

21 

11,450 

94 

843 

3,874 

91 

Appendix  D. 

NAMES  OF  PREACHERS  FIRST  AND  LAST  APPEARING 
IN  THE  CONFERENCE  MINUTES. 
The  left-hand  date  shows  when  the  relation  commenced, 
the  right-hand  date  when  it  ceased;  also  the  number  of  years 
effective  as  far  as  it  could  be  ascertained  prior  to  his  coming 
among  us,  with  the  number  of  years  he  has  since  been  eflfect- 
ive,  supernumerary,  superannuated,  or  presiding  elder.  When 
no  date  appears  on  the  right  of  the  name,  the  person  is  still 
connected  with  the  Conference.  The  letter  I  opposite  the 
name  and  date  indicates  that  he  located  that  year,  d  that  he 
died,  t  that  he  was  transferred  to  some  other  Conference, 
e  that  he  was  expelled,  w  that  he  withdrew  from  the  Confer- 
ence and  connection,  r  thit  he  was  removed  from  our  bounds 
by  Conference  division.  If  a  date  appears  on  the  right  of  a 
name,  but  no  letter,  the  person  was  then  discontinued. 

^VEST  Vri««iCONSIN  AND   NORTHIVEST    WISCONSIN 
CONFERENCES. 


fit 

Year. 

Name.     • 

Years  super- 
numer'y  or 
super'ate.... 

Year. 

25 
4 

10 
2 

2 

1856 

u 
u 

Alfred  Bruason,    .    •    . 

Joel  Brown, 

John  Bean, 

W.  H.  Bunce, 

Edwin  Buck,  ..... 

14 
9 

14 
2 

11 

23 

'  I'l 

14 

1883,  d. 
1868,  /. 
1880,  d, 
1858,  Z. 
1866,  w;. 

502 


APPENDICES  TO  PART  III. 


Yeak. 


1856 


Name. 


John  Blackhnrst, 
R.  W.  Barnes,  . 
Nelpon  Butler,  . 
J.  Burlinghame,  . 
J.  C.  Brainerd,  • 
E.  S.  Bunce,  .  . 
M.  Bennett,  .  .  . 
C.  Cook,  ..... 
A.  Callender,  .  . 
M.  Crownover,  . 
A.  G.  Cooley,  .  . 
L.  M.  Cochran,  . 
Robert  Delap,  .  . 
W.  F.  Delap,  .  . 
Samuel  Dodge,  . 
R.  Dudgeon,  .  . 
R.  Fancher,  .  .  . 
Seth  W.  Ford,  . 
R.  Gould,  .  .  . 
W.  B.  Hazletine, 
M.  Himebaugh,  . 
Z.  S.  Hurd,  .  .  . 
Jas.  Hightshoe,  . 

C.  P.  Hackney,  . 
G.  Hartshorn,  .  . 
W.  Harvey,  .  .  . 
Wm  Haw,  .  .  . 
E.  C.  Jones,  .  •  • 
0.  B.  Knudson,  . 
J.  S.  Lake,  .  .  . 
R.  Langley,  .  .  . 
Jas.  Lawson,  .  . 
Wm.  Mullen,  .    . 

D.  Mclndoe,  .  . 
J.  W.  Miller,  .  . 
A.  Mc Wright,  .  . 
John  Murrish,  . 
N.  Mayne,  .  .  . 
W.  M.  Osborne,  . 
Josf-ph  Odgers,  . 

E.  Page,  .  .  .  . 
J.  T.  Pryor,  .  .  . 
Harvey  Palmer, 
J.  S.  Prescott,  .   . 


a--fi) 

r~    ^ 


4 

1 
12 

2 
12 
22 
^8 
34 

1 

2 
10 

3 

9 

33 
11 
23 
16 

10 
26 

4 
12 

8 
23 

2 

13 
33 

4 


10 


11 


22 


1 

20 
10 


S  o 


3 
10 


Year. 


1859,  d. 
1865,  I 
1870,  e. 
1858. 
1874,  t. 
1878,  t. 
1870,  u\ 


1857,   t. 
1858. 
1867,  e. 
1859,   I. 
1871,1/'. 

1866,  d. 

1872,  f. 

1857,  t. 

1887,  d. 

1888,  d. 

1859,  t. 
1869,  /. 
1886,  d, 

1858.  ' 
1869,  /. 
1888,  d. 
1864,  w. 
1864,  t. 
1872,  /. 
1874,  d. 

1866,  t. 

1871,  I 

1861,  i. 

1861,  I 

1862,  I 

1860,  /. 
1866,  t. 
1862,  t. 
1856. 
1883,  d. 
1862,  I. 
1857,  I 


NAMES  OF  PREACHERS. 


503 


c^^ 

r^- 

--S^ 

sgg 

li-i 

^?i 

^  =  1 

—  on  p 

^1 

Year. 

Name. 

1 

ill 

:   So 

ill 

Ykar. 

3 

1856 

Jesse  Pardun,  .... 

1 

1 

1858,  /. 

>( 

John  Quiglej', .... 

1 

1 

1858,   /. 

4 

(( 

E   B.  Russell,  .... 

2H 

1 

1 

" 

R.  Robotham,  .... 

7 

4 

1867,  i. 

2 

a 

Jas.  Sims, 

34 

.    . 

.    . 

39 

W.  Summersides,  .    . 
I.  M.  Stager, 

8 
1 

5 

1868,  d. 
1857,  /. 

<c 

E.  H.  Sackett, .... 
A.  G.  Smith,    .    .    .    . 
J.  C.  Spellnm, .... 

15 
1 
4 

1874,   /. 
1856. 
1860,   /. 

1 

u 

H.H.Smith,    .    .    .    . 

6 

1861,   /. 

5 

a 

E.  Tasker, 

26 

4 

1880,  6 

(( 

James  Temby  .    .    .    . 
Isaac  Trotter,  .    .    .    . 

6 
3 

3 

1864,  I. 
1859,  /. 

5 

u 

W.  H.  Thompson  .    . 

1 

32 

1888,  c?. 

^ 

u 

A.  H.  Walter,  .   .    .    . 

11 

7 

1866,  t. 

'  b 

" 

Henrv  Wood,  .    .    .    . 

2 

6 

.    . 

1863,  /. 

14 

<( 

C.  E.  Wvrich,  .   .    .    . 

8 

1863,  (Z: 

5 

It 

J.  M.  Wells, 

19 

5 

1888,  d. 

1 

u 

Nelson  Wheeler,    .    . 

4 

1859,  e. 

25 

a 

W.  Wilcox, 

9 

.    . 

'  n 

L    1864,  6. 

10 

(( 

R.  R.Wood, 

7 

.    . 

[ 

5    1863,   /. 

23 

a 

J.  L.  Williams    .    .    • 

7 

20 

1881,  d. 

1857 

R.  Barge, 

7 

1864,   }. 

(( 

J.  B.  Bach  man,  .    .    . 

31 

2 

I 

I   .    .    .    . 

G.  T.  Clifton,  .    .    .    . 

F.  Carver, 

A.  Foster 

J.  E.  Fitch, 

1 
1 
4 
2 

1858. 
1858. 
1860,  U 
1859. 

(( 
(( 

R.  M.  Delap,    .    .    .    . 

John  Holt, 

C.  C.  Holcomb,  .    .    . 
A.  V.  House,  .    .    .    . 
R.  Z.  Mason    .    .    .    . 
Thos.  Mason,  .    .   . 
G.  W.  Nuzum,    .    . 

'.           6 

33 

10 

1 

4 

5 

19 

9 

•  • 

1863,  I. 

1866,  '/. 
1858. 

1860,  i. 

1861,  /. 

<l 

John  Nolan  .... 
Wm.  Owen, .... 
I.  E.  Springer,     .    . 
A.  L.  Thurston,  .    . 

4 

:    il 

3 

25 

•  • 

1860,  '/. 

1873,  \. 
1859,  e 

(( 

H.  C.  Wood,    .    .    . 

5 

.  . 

1861,  /. 

(( 

J.J.Walker,   .    .    . 

17 

9 

1883,  /. 

20 

a 

Elmore  Yocum,  .    . 

28 

4 

'  1 

4  .    .    .    . 

.      , 

<( 

[John  Knibbs, .    •    . 

27 

1 

.  . 

1884,  d. 

504 


APPENDICES  TO  PART  III. 


Year. 


27 


1858 


1859 


Name. 


1860 


S.  Anderson,  .  .  . 
S.  D.  Bassenger,  .  . 
A.  C.  Barnes,  .  .  . 
Henry  Coleman,  .  . 
T.  C.  Clendening,  . 
A.  Cedarholm,  •  • 
M.  Dinsdale,  .  .  . 
Samuel  Fallows,  .  . 

F.  S.  Houghawout, 

A.  Hall, 

P.  S.  Mather,  .  .  . 
W.  C.  McAllister,  . 

G.  W.  Peck,  .  .  . 
Peter  Pearson,  .  . 
John  M.  Springer,  , 
J.  D.  Searles,  .  .  . 
H.  V.  Train,  .  .  . 
D.  Budlong,  .... 
J.  C.  Aspinwall,  .  . 
W.  Barrett,  .... 
W.  A.  Chambers,  . 
A.  D.  Chase,    .    .    . 

W.  Carl, 

T.  C.  Golden,  .    .    . 

A.  Haagenson,  .  . 
J.  E.  Irish,  .... 
Thos.  Lawson,  .  . 
John  Medd,  .... 
Jacob  Miller,  .  .  . 
Lester  Perkins,  . 
W.  H.  Palmer,  .  . 
J.  W.  Scott,  .... 

B.  W.  Smith,  .  .  . 
S.  P.  Waldron,  .  . 
Asa  Wood,  .... 
W.  D.  Attwater,  .  . 

C.  P.  Argrelius,  .  . 
John  S.  Anderson, 
H.  H.  Brakeman,  . 
Wm.  Cook,  .... 
A.  W.  Cummings,  . 

D.  Cliiigman,  .    .    . 
W.  T.  W.  Cunningh 
R.  Cobban,  .   . 


am, 


3 

7 

1 

1 

4 

10 

18 

4 

4 

7 

22 

1 

1 

9 

7 

30 

5 

3 

19 

7 

5 

4 

2 

9 

10 

26 

24 

27 

11 

5 

10 

4 

4 

18 

1 

25 

3 

6 

14 

22 

17 

29 


c  -  '^ 

»  5  S 


S^  S 


13 


13 


Y  EAK. 


1860,  d. 
1864,  d. 
1859. 
1859,   t. 

1861,  I. 
1867,  d. 

1861,   t. 

1861,  I. 
1869,  d. 
1879,  t. 
1859. 
1859. 
1866,  d. 
1864,  d. 

1862,  '/. 

1862,  ?. 
1887,  d. 

1866,  I 

1863,  /. 
1869,  I. 
1862. 

1867,  /. 
1869,  t. 


1876,  I. 

1864,  I. 

1874,  d. 

1863,  I. 

1862,  I. 

1880,  I. 

1860,  I. 

1888,  t. 

1869,  t. 
1866,  t. 
1874,  I. 

1881*,  i. 

1868,  t. 

1870,  d. 


NAMES  OF  PREACHERS. 


505 


S.  3 

as 
Elde 

Years 
nam 
Supe 

5 

^«     Year. 

Name. 

II 

'1       Year. 

g    -5    i  £ 
^7-    U 

'1 

2       1860 

Jas.  Cady, 

5 

4|     • 

.     1868,  d. 

5 

J.  L.  Dyer, 

1 

.    . 

.     1861,  l. 

(( 

E.  Doughty, 

8 

12     . 

.     1880,  d. 

<( 

D.  W.  Downs, 

1 

.     1861. 

5 

T.  M.  Fullerton, .  .    .    . 

22 

9 

7    1889,  d. 

. 

a 

Nelson  Green 

1 

.    . 

.     1861,   L 

(( 

Jas.  Gurley, 

2 

9     . 

.     1871,   t. 

9          i; 

Wm.  Hamilton  .    .    .    . 

24 

5 

13   ...    . 

G.  F.  Hilton, 

1      • 

.     1861,   /. 

(( 

E.  S.  Havens, 

"  14 

.    . 

.     1874,   t. 

<< 

Thos.  Harwood, .  .    .    . 

6 

.     1869,  t. 

(( 

0.  C.  Hickock,    .    .    .    . 

1 

.     1861. 

24 

Chauncey  Hobart,  .  .    . 

4 

2    1864,   t. 

u 

B.  L.  Jackson, 

13 

3     . 

.     1876,   I. 

" 

A.  T.  Johnson,    .    . 

2 

.    . 

.     1862. 

(( 

W.  McKinley, 

3 

.     1863,  t. 

(( 

H.  T.  Magill, 

3 

.      1863,   t. 

li 

J.  B.  Reynolds,  .    .    .    . 

13 

4    1874,   t. 

a 

Levi  Shelly, 

2 

6     . 

.     1868,   t. 

ii 

Esdras  Smith, ... 

6 

,     1866,  L 

a 

A.B.Smith, 

6 

. 

.      1866,   l. 

14 

I.  A.  Sweatland,     .    . 

9 

'  12     . 

.     1880,  d. 

4 

M.  Woodley,    .... 

11 

12     . 

(( 

S.  M.  Webster,    .    .    . 

3 

.    . 

[     1863,   /. 

'.       1861 

Thos.  Bintliff, .   .    .    . 

1 

.     1862. 

" 

A.  D.  Cunningham,  . 

. 

2     '. 

.     1863,   L 

(( 

Harvey  Fletcher,   .   . 

2 

.     1863. 

^l 

John  L.  Farber, .  .    . 

3 

.    . 

.     1864,  /. 

a 

S.  A.  Hall, 

3 

2     . 

.     1866,   I. 

it 

C.  Steenson,    .... 

1 

.     1862. 

«< 

J.  W.  Stout, 

3 

.    . 

.     1864. 

u 

W.  W.  Wilde,  .... 

3 

.    . 

.     1864,  /. 

u 

W.  H.  Brocksome, .  . 

6 

.     1867,   t 

.     .              " 

Stephen  Adam§, .  .    . 

1 

.     1862,   I. 

.    .       1862 

u 

J.  S.  Akers, 

G.  W.  Carpenter,  .    . 

5 
3 

: 

.     1867,   t. 
.     1865. 

11 

H.  Chadeayne,    .    .    . 

7 

. . 

.     1870,  t. 

'  5 

Jas.  Evans, 

27 

. . 

.... 

E.  E.  Edwards,  .    .    . 

1 

.     1863. 

(( 

W.  P.  Hill, 

7 

1  • 

.     1870,  t 

C( 

Samuel  Harris,    .    .    . 

1 

. . 

.     1863. 

<( 

J.  T.  Hofius,    .... 

4 

1 

.     1867,  I 

u 

A.  B.  Howe, 

.     1865. 

'9 

W.  H.  Kellogg,  .    .    . 

le 

4 

42 


506 


APPENDICES  TO  PART  III. 


B-.2-. 


Ykak. 


1862 
1863 


1864 


1865 


1866 


Nam  I 


Matthew  Sorin,  . 
G.  L.  Blessing,  . 
0.  Bushby,  .  .  . 
B.  Collins,    .    .    . 

B.  C.  Hammond, 
H.  D.  Jencks,  .  . 
J.  W.  Johnson,  . 
0.  B.  Kilbourn,  . 
L.  W.  Pike,  .  .  . 
W.  W.  Smith,  .  . 
W.  W.  Wheaton, 

C.  N.  Whitney,  . 
A.  Wheeler,  ,  .  . 
S.  Aldrich,  .  .  . 
S.  S.  Benedict,  .  . 
George  Benham, 
Thos.  Crouch,  .  . 
E.  McGinley,  .  . 
0.  P.  Peterson,  . 

D.  Staples,  .  .  . 
Newell  Austin,  . 

E.  Arveson,  .    .    . 
O.  Burnett,  .   .    . 
G.  W.  Case,  .   .    . 
N.  Christopherson 
A.  J.  Davis,  .   .    . 

F.  W.  Dighton,  . 
John  H.  Johnson, 
C.  D.  Pillsbury,  . 
W.  R.  Sweat,  .  . 
W.  S.  Taylor,  .  . 
W.  J.  Wilson,  .  . 
H.  J.  Walker,  .  . 
H.  H.  Gilliland,  . 
E.  W.  Allen,  .  . 
Darius  Bresee,  . 
W.  M.  Brown,  .  . 
H.  W.  Bushnell, 
J.  A.  Gillespie,  . 
Jas.  Havens,  .  . 
W.  R.  Irish,  .  . 
Jas.  T.  Lewis,  .  . 
R.  Pengilly,  .  .  . 
J.  Thos.  Pryor,  Jr., 


«2? 


10 


ft  ^ 

go 


Year. 


1863. 
1864. 
1876,  t. 
1868. 
1871,  t. 


1865. 


1868,  I 

1869,  I. 


1865,  1. 
1864,  t. 
1871,  I. 


1886,  d. 

1868,  t. 
1867,  I. 
1873,  I. 
1865. 
1877,  t. 

1869,  i. 


1875,  d. 
1869,  t. 
1865. 
1867. 
1882,  I. 
1869,  t. 
1874,  t. 
1877,  w. 
1889,  t. 
1868. 
1871,  t. 

1873,  d. 


1877, 


1868,  Z. 


NAMES  OF  PREACHERS. 


507 


Year. 


11 


1866 


1867 


1868 


1869 


16 


Name. 


J.  D.  Tull,  .  .  . 
L.  E.  Wanner,  . 
W.  S.  Wright,  .  . 
C.  A.  Bucks,  .  . 
W.  T.  Bonghton, 
Carl  T.  Eltzholtz, 
W.  E.  Huntington 
P.  Jansen, .  . 

C.  Liscomb,  . 
Thos.  Manuel, 
P.  C.  Page,  . 
[.  B.  Kichardson 
John  Steele,    . 
W.  M.  Sedmore 
H.  M.  Springer, 
M.  D.  Trewilleger, 
Lester  Allen,    . 
G.  D.  Browne, 
J.  T.  Brvan,  .  . 
W.  E.  Conway, 
F.  M.  Cooley,  . 
E.  E.  Clough,  . 

D.  L.  Hubbard, 
T.  J.  Lewis,  .  . 
W.  J.  Terry,  . 
W.  C.  Ross,  .  . 
J.  H.  Whitney, 
Wm.  Thomas,  . 

E.  C.  Arnold,  . 
J.  Baldwin,  .    . 
J.  D.  Brothers, 
N.  C.  Bradley,  . 
S.  O.  Brown,    . 
D.  W.  Couch,  . 
J.  W.  Chariton, 
M.  F.  Chester,  . 
H.  K.  Cobb,    . 
D.  C.  Franklin, 
C.Irish,     .    .    . 
Wm.  Massee,  . 
A.  J.  Waite,  .  . 
H.  McCurdy,  . 
H.  S.  Richardson, 
I.  S.  Leavitt,    .   . 


11 


Year. 


1885,  L 
1868. 
1881,  d. 
1867. 
1873,  t. 

1869,  t. 

1870,  /. 
1869,  t. 
1883,  d. 
1877,  d. 
1867. 


1867. 
1874,  t. 
1869,  t. 
1868. 


1868. 

1888,  t. 

1879,  L 

1871.  ' 

1882,  /. 

1881,  I 
1873. 

1871,  I 


1883,  J. 
1881,  t. 
\881,w. 
1871. 
1869,  d. 
1871. 
1888,  I. 

1869. 
1871. 
1875,  t. 
1873,  t. 


APPENDICES  TO  PART  J 11. 


:   ^<^ 
16 


Year. 


1869 

a 

1870 


1871 


10 


1872 


1873 


1874 


Name. 


Wm.  Sturgis,  . 
C.  C.  Swartz,  . 
M.  B.  Balch,  . 
J.  W.  Bell,  .  . 
J.  J.  Clifton,  . 
S.  W.  LaDiie,  . 
W.  J.  McKay, . 
G.  W.  Nichols, 

E.  L.  Semans,  . 
J,  Tresidder,    . 

B.  E.  Wheeler, 

C.  Hendra,  .  . 
A.  D.  Dexter,  . 
John  Harris,  . 
P.  E.  Knox,  .  . 
N.  Leach,  •  .  . 
R.  W.  Nichols, 
VV.  Semple,  .  . 
C.  S.  Vail,    .    . 

F.  S.  West,  .  . 
E.  T.  Briggs, .  . 

G.  W.  L.  Brown 
Alfred  Charles, 
W.  H.  Chynoweth 
S.  W.  Horner,  . 

C.  E.  Hawkins, 
W.  H.  McMillan 
S.  E.  McLain,  . 
Warren  Mooney 
H.  C.  Carter,  . 
J.  P.  Greer,  .  . 
Geo.  Hai^h, .  . 

D.  S.  Howes,    . 
Jas.  Jefferson, . 
M.  Matthiason, 
G.  T.  Newcomb, 
Robert  Smith,  . 
N.  S.  Sliter,  .   . 
J.  H.  Twombly, 
A.  F.  Thompson 
G.  N.  Kellogg,  . 
W.  J.  Bullivant, 
Edgar  Booth,  . 
0.  A.  Britten,  . 


=  =  » 

«  g  S 

9^7 


10 


i  ^2 
cr;  Pi 


Yeak. 


1882,  e. 

1880,  L 

1870,  t. 

1872.  ' 

1884,  t. 


1872,  I. 

1889,  t. 

*1877',  "/. 

1882,  I. 

1873. 

1871. 


1886,  t 
1882,  /. 


1875,  t. 


1878,  /. 
1874. 

1877,  /. 


1879,  w. 
1877,  /. 


1882,^. 
1876. 


1875. 
1874.  t. 
1886,  t. 
1874. 
1878.  /. 


NAMES  OF  PREACHERS. 


509 


i    oi 


Year. 


1874 


1875 


1876 


1877 


Name. 


1878 


1879 


W.  T.  Dudley, 
L.  J.  Harrington 
Jas.  McClane, . 
T.  H.  Phillips, . 
Edward  Tench, 
J.  E.  Webster,  . 
R.  Burnip,  .    . 
A.  S.  Collins,   . 
J.  W.  Duncan, 
H.  Goodsell,.  • 
Wm.  Galloway, 

E.  D.  Huntley, 
J.  G.  Haigb,  .  . 
H.  M.  Hackney, 
W.  A.  McLaughl 
C.  R.  Tuttle, 
A.  L.  Tull,    . 
M.  Benson,  . 
W.  K.  Cook, . 
W.  P.  Hathaway 
John  Haw,  .    • 
P.  K.  Jones,    . 
G.  W.  Smith,  . 
J.  S.  Thompson 
J.  F.  Zeigler,   . 
T.  M.  Evans,  . 

F.  Howarth,    . 
C.  Z.  Crossett,  . 

G.  N.  Foster,    . 
F.  L.  Hart,    •    • 
W.  W.  Hurd,  . 
J.  N.  Phillips,  . 
W.  C.  Sawyer,  . 
I.  F.  Nuzum,  . 
Charles  Barker, 
Henry  Dockham, 
W.  E.  Doughty,  . 
James  Ford, .  • 
Thos.  Snodgrass, . 
George  Tyake, 

E.  J.  Bickell,    . 
[.  B.  Bickford, . 

F.  W.  Hall,  .    . 
J.  D.  Hurlbut, 


4 

6 

3 

1 

9 

15 

13 

13 

2 

14 

13 

8 

4 

6 

2 

1 

14 

13 

1 

6 

13 

10 

13 

7 

12 

6 

10 

4 

12 

12 

12 

4 

4 

12 

9 

8 

11 

11 

11 

6 

1 

10 
3 
1 


_^  a:  y 


act  ji 


Year. 


1883,  /. 
1880,  v\ 
1877,  I. 
1875,  t. 

1884,  I. 


1889,  t. 
1888,  t. 
1877. 


1883,  t. 
1879,  V'. 
1881,  /. 
1877,  /. 
1876. 


1877. 
1882,  /. 


1889,  d. 


1883,  t. 


1882,  t. 
1886,  t. 
1881,  d. 


1881,  "^i;. 
1881,  t. 


1886,  d. 


1885,  t. 
1879. 


1879. 


510 


APPENDICES  TO  PART  III. 


15 


26 


18 


Year. 


1879 


1880 


1881 


1882 


1883 


1884 


1885 


Name. 


Wm.  Shepherd, 
Jas.  McManus, 
Jas.  Trewartha, 
L.  N.  Wooley,  . 
I.  N.  Adrian,   . 
J.  H.  Avery,    . 
T.  W.  Cole,  .    . 
E.  L.  Eaton,    . 
W.  A.  Lawson, 
J.  C.  Lawson,  . 
Thos.  B.  Killiam, 
J.  T.  Morgans,     . 
E.  H.  McKenzie, 
Warren  Woodruff 
John  Harrington, 
J.  I.  Bartolomew, 

C.  R.  Kellerman, 

E.  Bradford,  . 
G.  A.  Joslin.  . 
J.  J.  Austin,  . 
Benjamin  Nott 
T.  W.  North,  . 
M.  J.  Robinson, 
Edward  Trimm, 
S.  W.  Trousdale, 
James  Barnett,  . 
Arthur  Chalfant, 
B.  M.  Fulmer,  . 
W.  E.  Robinson, 
John  A.  Willey, 
John  F.  Cowling 
G.  A.  Fulcher,  . 
John  Claflin,    .    . 

D.  M.  Sinclair,    . 

F.  M.  Haight,  .  . 
A.  H.  Yokom,  . 
A.  M.  Pilch er,  .  . 
F.  J.  Borgia,  .  . 
Wm.  Atkinson,  . 
Thos.  Foulkes,  . 
H.  P.  Blake,  .  .  . 
J.  C.  Gordon,  .  . 
L.  W.  McKibben 
T.  W.  Stamp,  .  . 
W.  J.  Ingersoll,  . 


c  ;:  » 


Year. 


1881. 

1884, 

1881. 
1889, 
1881. 
1880, 
1881, 


1882, 
1889, 
1887, 


1885, 
1884, 


18 
1883, 


1886, 
1886. 


1889, 


1887.   t. 


NAMES  OF  PREACHERS. 


511 


24 


5 
1 
4 
32 
1 


11 


1886 


1887 


Name. 


1888 


1889 


G.  W.  Horton, 
J.  H.  Benson,  . 
J.  M.  Phelps,  . 
R.  A.  Ray  son,  . 
H.  A.  Rodgers, 
AVm.  Rowe,  .    . 
S.  W.  Hayes,  . 
Benjamin  Shipp 
F.  C.  Wright,  . 
L.  A.  Willsev.  . 
J.  F.  Tubbs,"  . 
Wm.  F.  Emorv, 
N.  R.  Hinds,    .' 
H.  J.  Witherbee 
Thos.  Leak,  .  . 

F.  R,  Lewis,    . 
Alfred  Ramey, 

G.  W.  Pepper, 
H.  C.  Meyers,  . 
H.  W.  Troy,    . 
F.  W.  Straw,    . 
O.  H.  P.  Smith, 

C.  W.  Bennett, 

F.  H.  Harvey, . 
John  N.  Mills, 
E.  F.  Marcellus 
W.  M.  Martin, 
George  Merrifield, 
George  Brown, 
George  Derby, 

G.  R.  Chambers 
G.  S.  Perry, .   . 
A.  B.  Schoville, 
A.  C.  Halsey,  . 
A.  G.  Harrison, 

D.  J.  Whiting, 
Howard  Robinson 
Wm.  H.  Morgan, 
W.  AV.  Hurlbut 
Henry  Stewart, 
A.  E.  Smith,    . 
L.  B.  Coleman, 
W.  E.  Pilcher, 
W.  P.  Burrows, 
H.  B.  Brenaman 


"1    rf 


Year. 


1887, 


I,  rf. 


1886, 


1888, 
1889,  d. 


512  APPENDICES  TO  PART  III. 


Appendix    E. 

NAMES  OF  DIvSTRICTS   AND   PASTORAL   CHARGES  IN 
WISCONSIN. 

As  they  first  appeared  in  the  Appointments  of  the  West 
Wisconsin,  Northwest  Wisconsin,  or  Minne- 
sota Conferences. 

WEST    IVISCONSIN    AND   JJOKTHWEST    WISCONSIN   CONFER- 
ENCES.* 

1856.  Mineral  Point  District,  Point  Bluff  District,  Albany,  Bara- 

boo  Mission,  Cottage  Inn,  Darlington,  Linden,  Maus- 
ton,  Moscow,  Necedah,  Oregon,  Primrose,  Norwegian 
Mission,  Piainfield,  Ridgeville,  Yiroqua,  Norwegian 
Mission,  Richland,  Norwegian  Mission,  Little  Falls, 
Marietta,  Galesville,  North  Pepin,  Kinnickinnick, 
Willow  River. 

1857.  Washburn,  EUenbro,  Providence,  Boscobel,  Liberty,  Ar- 

gyle,  Highland,  W^elsh  Circuit,  Brodhead,  Cadiz,  Ada- 
rio,  Ironton,  Kilbourn  City,  Burns,  Cataract,  Alma, 
Leon,  Salem,  Woodstock,  Sextonville,  Kickapoo,  Lone 
Rock. 

1858.  Otter  Creek  Norwegian  Mission,  Paoli  Dane,  New^  Lisbon, 

Glendale,  Richford,  Strong's  Prairie,  Jacksonville, 
Honey  Creek,  North  La  Crosse  and  Onalaska,  Prairie 
du  Chien,  Southward,  Viola,  Springville,  Mount 
Sterling,  Prescott  District,  Pleasant  Valley,  Trimbelle, 
River  Falls. 

1859.  Mazomanie,  Vienna,  Bristol,  Quincy,  Russell's  Corners, 

Angelo,  Port  Andrew,  New  Brookville,  Portland, 
Tomah,  Newton,  Westfield,  Trempealeau,  Mondovia, 
Chippewa  City,  Menomonee,  Rock  Falls,  Arcadia, 
Pepin,  Eau  Claire. 

1860.  Mineral  Point  Circuit,   Mount  Zion,    Pleasant   Prairie, 

Judah,    Spring  Green,  Towerville  and  Albion,  State 


*  For  changes  in  districts  and  charges  in  this  territory  prior  to 
1856,  see  Appendix  E  of  the  Wisconsin  Conference. 


DISTRICTS  AND  PASTORAL  CHARGES.         518 

Line,  Viroqua  Circuit,  De  Soto,  Melrose,  Leroy,  Well- 
ington, Hixton,  Galesville  District,  Garden  Valley, 
Augusta,  Neillsville,  Eau  Claire  East,  Eau  Claire 
West,  Maxville,  Durand,  Eau  Galla. 

1861.  Avoca,  Loyd,  Chippewa    District,  Cedar  Valley,   Rich- 

mond, Center  ville. 

1862.  Batavia,    Sylvan,   Wonewoc,  Gratiot,   Bear  Creek,  Fair 

Valley,  Downsville,  Hudson  (Second  Charge),  Xew 
Richmond,  Diamond  Bluff. 

1863.  Wilsonville. 

1864.  (Racine  and  Milwaukee,  Hart  Prairie,  Cambridge  and 

Coon  Prairie)  Norwegian  Missions ;  Hancock,  Wauzeka, 
Rush  River,  New  Richmond  District,  Hillsborough^ 
Luna,  Bloomer  Prairie. 

1865.  Middleton,  West  Branch,  Whitehall,  Cook's  Valley. 

1866.  Kilbourn   District,  Big  Spring,    Clear    Creek,    Vanville, 

Hammond,  Rock  Elm. 

1867.  (Merrimac,  Sheboygan,  Manitowoc,  and  Asheppen)  Nor- 

wegian Missions;  Lincoln, Ontario,  Wauneka, Bayfield, 
Oneota. 

1868.  (Chicago,  Primrose,  Highland,  and  Richland)  Norwegian 

Missions ;  Monroe  Circuit,  Seneca  and  Brookvile,  Mount 
Hope,  Pigeon  Creek. 

1869.  Belmont,   Bluff,    Friendship,  Blue  River,   Black  River 

Circuit,  Tomah  Circuit,  Tunnel  City,  Wilton,  Bloomer, 
Peru,  Louisville,  Apple  River,  West  Salem. 

1870.  Belle  Center,  Knight's  Creek,  St.  Croix. 

1871.  Mauston  Circuit,  Osseo,   Loyal,  Hay  River,  Springfield. 

1872.  St.  Croix  District,  Ellsworth,  Esdale,  Alabama. 

1873.  Blooms  Station,  Elroy,  Cedar  Falls,  Modena,  Chippewa 

Circuit,  Greenwood  and  Colby. 

1874.  Merrillan    and    Humbird,   Clifton    and    Kinnickinnick, 

Lucas,  Georgetown. 

1875.  Barron,  Edson,   Union  Valley,  North  Freedom,  Sparta 

Circuit,  Breerton. 

1876.  West  Point,  Clear  Lake,  Knapp,  Humbird  and  Fairchild, 

Liberty  Pole,  Maiden  Rock. 

1877.  Bloomington,  Boscobel  Circuit,  Kendall,  Mormon  Cooley 

and  Chaseburg,  Pleasant  Grove,  Wheaton. 

1878.  Benton,   Eau  Claire  City  Mission,  Eau    Claire  Circuit, 

Prairie  Farm,  Sumner. 

1879.  La  Grange,  Cadott  Falls,  Unity,  Arkansaw. 

1880.  Excelsior,  Spencer,  Shawtown,  Medford. 

43 


514  APPENDICES  TO  PART  III. 

1881.  Secblerville,  Marshfield,  Rice  Lake. 

1882.  Hamlin,  Thorp  and  Longwood,  Prairie  Farm,  Cumber- 

land, Woodville,  Black  Hills  and  Central  City  Missions, 
Dakota. 

1883.  Mill  Creek,  Ashland,  Phillips. 

1884.  Beef  Slough,  Shell  Lake,  Newton,  Mount  Horeb,  Verona, 

Rewey,  Chaseburg  and  Newton,  Coloma. 

1885.  Baraboo,  South  Side,  Homer,  Syene. 

1886.  Boaz. 

1887.  Ashland   District,  Chetek,  Balsam   Lake,  Turtle    Lake, 

West  Superior,  Washburn,  Bloom  City,  Bloomingdale, 
La  Crosse  (Caledonia  Chapel),  La  Crosse  (Coleman 
Chapel),  Brooklyn,  Faircliild. 

1888.  Abbotsford,  Chelsea,  Prentice,  Glidden,  Hurley. 

1889.  Drummond,    Loraine,   Marshfield,   Cassville,    Lancaster 

Circuit,  Sandusky  and  Lime  Ridge,  Union  Center, 
Glennwood. 


APPENDIX  F. 

AN  ACT  TO  INCORPORATE  THE  METHODIST  EPISCO- 
PAL CHURCH. 

The  People  of  the  Stale  of   Wisconsin,  represented  in  Senate  and 
Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 

Section  1.  That  all  Trustees  who  have  been,  or  may  here- 
after be,  chosen  or  appointed  inany  society  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  this  State,  according  to  the  rules  and  Dis- 
cipline of  said  Church,  and  their  successors  in  office,  appointed 
as  aforfsaid,  shall  be  a  person  in  law,  capable  of  contracting 
and  being  contracted  with,  suing  and  being  sued,  and  defend- 
ing and  being  defended,  in  all  suits  and  actions  whatsoever, 
both  in  law  and  in  equity,  and  shall  have  power  to  acquire, 
hold,  possess,  and  enjoy  in  trust  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  any  lands,  tenements,  and  hereditaments,  and  to  use 
or  to  sell  and  convey  the  same,  for  the  proper  benefit  of  said 
Church. 

Sec.  2.  Whenever  a  vacancy  shall  occur  in  any  such  Board 
of  Trustees,  by  death,  resignation,  removal  from  the  society, 
or  otherwise,  such  vacancy  shall  be  filled  according  to  the 
rules  and  Discipline  of  said  Church. 

Sec.  3.    All  lands,  tenements,  and  hereditaments  that  now 


SPECIAL  SERMONS. 


515 


are,  or  may  hereafter  be,  held  by  any  trustee  or  trustees,  in 
trust  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  this  State,  for  the 
purposes  of  religious  worship,  a  residence  for  their  pastor  or 
pastors,  a  burying  ground,  or  educational  purposes,  shall,  with 
the  improvements  and  appurtenances,  descend  to  and  be  held 
by  such  trustee  or  trustees  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  chosen 
or  appointed  according  to  the  rules  and  Discipline  of  said 
Church. 

Sec.  4.  The  Act  entitled  "An  Act  to  Incorporate  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,"  approved  March  15,  1849,  is  hereby 
repealed. 

Sec.  5.  This  Act  shall  take  effect  and  be  in  force  from  and 
after  the  first  day  of  April  next,  and  may  be  amended  or  re- 
pealed by  any  future  Act  of  the  Legislature. 

Approved  March  5,  1868. 


Appendix  G. 


SPECIAL  SERMONS  BEFORE  THE  CONFERENCE. 

WEST  WISCONSIX  AND  NORTHWEST  WISCONSIN  CON- 
FERENCES. 


(Name. 


Subject  of  Sermon. 


1857  VV.  Wilcox,    .    . 

1858  R.  Z.Mason,  .  . 
«1859lW.  B.Hazletine 
tl859  J.  C.  Aspinwall, 

1860  C.  E.  Weiricb,  . 
18611m.  Bennett,    .    . 

1861  iW.  McKinley,  . 

1862  A.  Brunson,  .    . 

1862  W.  Haw,    .   .    . 

1863  James  Lawson, 
1863  H.  T.  Magill,  . 
1864JP.  S.  Mather,  . 
186410.  N.  Whitney  . 
1865|A.  Brunson  .  . 
1865; W.  H.  Brocksome 
1865;  A.  Brunson,  . 
1866|J.  Gurley    .    . 


Missionary, 


Semi- Centennial, 
Missionary,     .    . 


Place. 


Mineral  Point. 

La  Crosse. 

Monroe. 

Platteville. 

Baraboo. 

Madison. 

Galesville. 

Dodgeville. 

Hudson. 

Lodi. 

West  Eau  Claire. 

Mauston. 

Black  River  Falls. 

Brodhead. 

Menomonee. 

Brodhead. 

Prescott. 


Spring  Conference,    f  Fall  Conference. 


516 


APPENDICES  TO  PART  III. 


Year. 

Name. 

Subject  of  Sermon. 

Place. 

1866 

W.  F.  Delap,  .  .    . 

Missionary,  .... 

Hazel  Green. 

1866 

T.  C.  Golden,  .  .    . 

Centenary,  .... 

Prescott. 

1866 

P.  S.  Mather,  .  .    . 

Church   Extension, 

Hazel  Green. 

1866 

A..  Brunson,  .    .    . 

Centenary, 

Hazel  Green. 

1867 

James  Evans,    .   . 

Missionary,  .... 

Prairie  du  Chien. 

1867 

S.Aldrich,  .... 

n 

Sparta. 

1867 

James  Lawson,  .  . 

Church   Extension, 

Prairie  du  Chien. 

1868 

E.  Yocum,  .... 

Missionary,  .... 

Mazomanie. 

1868 

E.  B.  EuEsell,    .    . 

Church  Extension, 

Mazomanie. 

1869 

I.  B.   Richardson, 

Missionary,  .... 

Portage  City. 

1870 

O.Bushby,  .... 

u 

La  Crosse. 

1871 

VV.  E.  Huntington, 

u 

Mineral  Point. 

1872 

H.Gilliland,  .    .    . 

Educational,    .    .    . 

West  Eau  Claire. 

1873 

W.  H.  Palmer,  .    . 

Missionary,  .... 

Baraboo. 

1873 

J.  B.  Bachman,    . 

Educational,    .    .    . 

Baraboo. 

1874 

C.  Cook, 

Missionary,  .... 

Brodhead. 

1875 

H.  D.  Jencks,    •    . 

Temperance,  .    .    . 

Hudson. 

1875 

E.  E.  Clough,    .   . 

Missionary,  .... 

Hudson. 

1875 

J.  E.  Irish,  .... 

Centennial,  .... 

Hudson. 

1876 

J.  Knibbs,  .... 

Missionary,  .... 

Madison. 

1877 

J.  Evans,    .... 

" 

Eau  Claire. 

1878 

I.  B.   Richardson, 

(< 

Monroe. 

1879 

C.  Irish, 

<( 

La  Crosse. 

1880 

E.  L.  Semans,  .    . 

(( 

Platte  ville. 

1881 

H.  Goodsell,  .    .    . 

<( 

Sparta. 

1882 

C.  R.  Kellerman  . 

u 

Portage. 

1883 

E.  L.  Eaton,  .    .    . 

" 

Baraboo. 

1884 

S.  W.  Horner,    .    . 

(< 

Eau  Claire. 

1884 

James  Lawson,  .  . 

r   Centennial  of   ") 
I  M.  E.  Church,  / 

Eau  Claire. 

1885 

W.  H.  Chynoweth, 

Missionarv,  .... 

Dodgeville. 

1886 

H.  P.  Blake,  .    .    . 

a 

Black  River  Falls. 

1887 

J.  M.  Thoburn,  .  . 

(( 

Mineral  Point. 

1888 

E.  Trimm,  .... 

(< 

Mansion . 

1889 

Arthur  Edwards,  . 

"                 .... 

Sparta. 

1890 

W.  M.  Martin,  .    . 

(( 

Monroe. 

Appendix  H. 


DELEGATES  TO  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

IVEST  WISCONSIN  CONFERENCE. 

1860. 

A.  Brunson,  J.  L.  Williams,  T.   C.  Golden.     Reserves—^. 
Wilcox,  E.  Yocum. 


DELEGATES  TO  GENERAL  CONFERENCES.     517 

1864. 

Matthew  Bennett,  Jas.  Lawson.  Reserves— k.  H.  Walters, 
J.  C.  Aspinwall. 

1868. 

A.  Brunson,  K.  Dudgeon.  Reserves—?.  S.  Mather,  E.  Yocum. 

1872. 

Clerical— J.  B.  Bachman,  J.  B.  Reynolds,  A.  Brunson,  T. 
M.  FuUerton.     Reserves— n.  Dudgeon,  P.  S.  Mather. 

Lay— John  H.  Rountree,  John  E.  Stillman.  Reserves— Thos,. 
D.  Steele,  Daniel  T.  Abell. 

1876. 

Clerical— Wm.  Hamilton,  Wm.  Haw,  P.  S.  Mather.  Re- 
serves—^. E.  Irish,  R.  Dudgeon. 

Lay— M.  Herrick,  D.  W.  Ball.  Reserves— Y,.  E.  Bentley,  E. 
C.  French. 

1880. 

Clerical— Wm.  Hamilton,  Wm.  Haw,  Jas.  Lawson.  Re- 
serves—'E.  D.  Huntley,  J.  E.  Irish. 

Lay— D.  J.  Spaulding,  Wm.  Curry.     Reserve— E.  C.  French, 

188-5. 

Clerical— W.  J.  McKay,  M.  Benson,  J.  E.  Irish.  Reserves— 
G.  W.  Case,  H.  Goodsell. 

Lay— Henry  Harnden,  Ira  Bradford.  Reserves— E.  E.  Bentley, 
F.  L.  Sanborn. 

1888. 

Clerical— E.  L.  Eaton,  B.  E.  Wheeler,  W.  J.  McKay.  Re- 
serves—John  Tresidder,  M.  B.  Balch. 

Lay— E.  E.  Bentley,  J.  B.  Jones.  Reserves— 'F.  J.  Layne, 
Jas.  Spensley. 

NORTinV£ST  WISCONSIN  CONFfiRENCE. 

1864. 

Chauncey  Hobart,  T.  C.  Golden.  Reserves— ^Ym.  Hamilton, 
W.  M.  Osborne. 

1868. 

T.  M.  Fullerton.    Reserve— C.  P.  Hackney. 


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520 


APPENDICES  TO  PART  III. 


Appendix  J. 

Deceased  Wives  of  Ministers  in  West  Wisconsin  and  Northwest 
Wisconsin  Conferences,   1856-1889. 


Name. 


Elizabeth  Lawson, .  . 
Elizabeth  L.  Mather, 
Mrs.  J.  C.  Aspiawall, 
Emma  Brunson, .  .  . 
Ellen  McGinley, .  .  . 
Jane  C.  Yocum,  .  .  . 
Lucy  E.  Irish,    .    .    . 

Mary  Cook, 

Lucetta  McGinley, .  . 
Caroline  S.  Brunson,  . 
Elizabeth  Booth,  .  . 
Martha  M.  Irish,  .  . 
Mary  A.  Lawson,  .  . 
Caroline  Wilcox,  .  . 
Annie  L.  Haw,  .  .  . 
Margaret  Yocum,  .  . 
Alice  Nichols,  .  .  .  . 
Maggie  F.  Thompson, 
Amelia  B.  Knibbs,  . 
Mary  Pryor,  .  .  .  . 
Julia  M.  Haw,    .    .    . 


Born. 


England, 
England, 


Connecticut, 


Canada,  .  . 
Michigan,  . 
New  York,  . 
Connecticut, 
New  York,  . 
Illinois,  .  . 
Connecticut, 
Vermont,  . 
Vermont,    . 


Wisconsin, . 
Guernsey,  . 


England, .  . 
New  York,  . 


1791 


1807 
1834 
1835 

1815 
1852 
1840 
1842 
1805 
1854 


1851 
1853 


1813 
1834 


14 


Deceased. 


Wiota,  .  .  . 
Hazel  Green, 
Platteville,  . 
Prairie  duChien 
Hazel  Green, 
Point  Bluff, 
Hudson,  .  . 
Dodgeville,  . 
Orion,  .  .  . 
Prairie  duChien, 
Prairie  duChien, 
Hammond,  . 
State  Line, .  .  . 
Baraboo,  .... 
New  Eichmond, 

Sparta, 

North  Freedom, 
Madison,  Dak., . 

Iowa, 

Dodgeville,  .  .  . 
Minneapolis, .  . 


1859 
1863 
1864 
1846 
1873 
1873 
1873 
1879 
1879 
1860 
1881 
1881 
1883 
1883 
1883 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1887 
1888 
1889 


CONFERENCE  SESSIONS. 


521 


Deaths 

:    :    :    :  ^  ^    :    t^— ico    ;    ;  zooi    :co    :    :  r-i    ; 

Transferred 

'^  CO  .-1     :  (M  CO  rj     :      :      ;     ;      :  ,-,     ;  Ci  (M     :      ;  :ci^ 

Expelled 

::::  c-i    :::::;:  r-i    ::  r-i    ;;;    : 

Withdrawn 

::::::     :::":"^:::"^:ii 

Located 

:COTtHCO<M^iOC^iOOr-i(MTtiO-*'M'*C>lT-c(M 

Ordained 
Elders  

T-H'^OiCOOiCOC^iOCOOr-KMi^iOt^OO'^OCil'^ 

I— 1                                                                            T— 1 

Ordained 
Deacons 

CliCOGOiOiOiOCO^Or-iiOJO-^XCiXit^CO'^CO 

Received  in 
Full 

02c<D(MocoLO»oococ^i:r>coiociTtia:C5ooTr:o 

Received  on 
Trial 

CO  CO  cc  1-^  i^  CO  CO  o  t^  CM  o  ;o  t^  -M  -^  05  uo  Oi  00  o 

Rt-ceived  by 
Transfer 

lO  rH    :     :     :     :     :     :     :     :     :     :     :     :  co    :     :  r-i  (M  co 

Received  from 
otlier  Cliuniies 

:::::::        :    :    •    I    •         :    :         : 

Readmitted 

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rT^S 


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ioioiOicioococO':ococococo<:0!:oi:^i:^t^t>-r>- 

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOCOOOGOCOCCOOCOGOCOQOQO 


44 


522 


APPENDICES  TO  PART  III, 


Deaths 


(M-^C^JC^IOCi-ICOC^ICsJlC 


Trnnsfened 

COi-i-^rH      :(Mrhr-iCOCSC-lCOCCT^;C 

Expelled 

Willidrawn 

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Elders 

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Ordained 
Deacons 

Keceived  in 
Full    

JO  o  t--  Tp  CO  CO  lO  lO  rr-i  CO  CO  iTJ  ;c  CO  Tf 

Keeeivedon 
TiiMl 

O  lO  O  r^  r-  1^  1— 1  iO  ^  'f  O  X  l^  t^  Ci 

Received  by 
Trav^fer 

cc,  ^  ^  r^  r-.  c>)  <>4  ^  c<5  (M  <M  =M  c^^  ;c  r- 

Received  from 
ulher  Churches 

,-1  (M     :  -^     :„  „r--     :  (M     :  r-^     ;      ;      ; 

Readiuiite<i 

r-  oi     :     :     :  -^  r-  rM    :  --     :     :  o^i     :     : 

oi «  g' §  S  ^  ^  "^  ^' ^*  ^*  ^' ai  a^  a: 

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History  of  Methodism  in  -/visconsin. 

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